Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

PETER, THE APOSTLE

A symbol of the lower mind, or "natural man," with sense of separateness.

"And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord : this shall never be unto thee. But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men." - MATTHEW xvi. 22, 23.

This signifies the incapacity of the lower mind to understand the sublime heights to which the Christ-soul shall rise; and also the lower mind's revolt against the suggestions of a purifying process in the promptings of the Higher Ego, which suggestions, however, are strangely distorted as they come as reflections to the lower mind, and which, therefore, are not understood. This attitude of mind is rebuked by the indwelling Christ. The "rebuke must be taken as signifying the casting forth from the mind of doubt and error which obstruct truth and right.

"What then is designated by the 'air,' but the minds of worldly men, which, given up to the countless desires of this life, are, being fluid, scattered hither and thither like the air. But the air is collected into 'clouds,' when unstable minds are, by the grace of the Divine regard, strengthened with the solidity of virtue, in order that, by thinking of what is right, they may gather themselves within the bosom of their heart and may not melt away in empty thoughts. Peter had been air,' when the occupation of fishing for the life of the flesh used, as a transient breeze, to agitate him, distracted still with earthly desires." - ST. GREGORY THE GREAT, Morals on the Book of Job, Vol. I. Preface.

See Also

AIR
ANDREW
APOSTLES
ASCENSION OF OSIRIS
DISCIPLES
DOORKEEPER (fem.)
FEED
FISH
GETHSEMANE
HORSES (manes)
JESUS (severe)
MAN (Natural)
MESSIAH
NET
SATAN
TABERNACLES
TRANSFIGURATION
TRIBUTE