Failure is Destiny: Why we need a Theology of Failure. (Part 1 of 3)

Saint Peter Weeping by Guercino, ca. 1647.

Not too long ago, I emailed my former theology professor.

What have you been up too lately Dr A?

"Oh not much. I have been trying to develop a theology of failure."

And that phrase has played in my mind ever since.

Theology strives to be relevant by contemplating the riches of Scripture and Tradition so as to shed light on human experiences.

Theologians have developed all kinds of theology.

A Theology of the Body. Because all human beings need to know what it means to be a man or woman.

A Theology of Suffering. Because everybody suffers and would appreciate wisdom in that regard.

How about a Theology of Failure?

When I shared this with one of my students, he replied, “We are destined to fail.”

He was not despairing over his impending major exam.

Rather, he recognised an important truth about life.

Failure is a human experience. It will happen. And like suffering, and the experience of being a man and woman, theology should have something to say about this.

In this and subsequent columns, I would like to share at least my outline of a Theology of Failure by doing the following:

A. Define what I mean by failure.

B. Examine what the Bible teaches about failure through the life of Simon Peter.

C. Applying it to 3 areas, namely i) moral failure, ii) dealing with error and iii) finally to also shed some light on how this can be helpful in a Singapore context.

What failure is, and is not.

At its most basic, failure simply refers to not succeeding in objectives set either by you or by others.

The definition might be easy, but here is where things get complicated.

When you do not experience success, you may ask subsequent questions.

Were those who set the objectives being unrealistic?

Why should I be meeting the standards set by others?

In some cases, it may dawn on an individual.

“The standards are unrealistic. I am set up to fail. It is those who set the standards who are the problem.”

A person feels liberated with this realisation.

And decides that he needs objectives that truly resonate with his own heart. And other more suitable guides. Yet even with this changed mindset, the prospect of failure does not disappear.

With standards that now truly resonate in his heart, and a guide whom he truly wants to follow, he quickly discovers that he still fails.

Examine the Life of Simon Peter.

When you think about it, that is the story of Simon Peter.

i) Peter found better standards to follow

“We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41), his brother Andrew announced to Peter. And Peter, after spending a day with Jesus, agreed with Andrew’s assessment. He has found what his heart desires. He recognises that he is not worthy, “leave me Lord for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8) But he is happy and wants to go all in, “we have left everything to follow you” (Matthew 19:27), and by doing this, he experienced a certain liberation. “He plucked ears of corn” (Matthew 12:1) on the Sabbath, no longer constrained by rules set by unreliable guides that made him feel like a failure. He was able to do good for others. “Even the demons obey us.”  (Luke 10:17) It was freedom. And power.

ii) Peter realised that even if these were the standards he wanted to follow, he still experienced failure

Yet amid this heady new way of living, comes a reality check.  Not all his ideas were sound. Some of them were outright dangerous. “Get thee behind me Satan, you are an obstacle to my path. For what you are thinking is man and not God’s” (Matthew 16:23). What a stinging rebuke by the Master! This was not just a small lapse, but a failure so egregious that his Master rebuked him by labelling his idea as belonging to their common mortal enemy.

The Rebuking or Calling of Saint Peter, circa 1600, Belgium

This must have stung him grievously. Just two sentences before, Simon had his name changed to Peter and had been given the mandate to lead by Jesus. (Matthew 16:18) And now Jesus had rebuked him publicly. The Master’s intentions were noble. To warn against spiritual danger. But impetuous Peter felt insecure in his leadership. “The others are going to remember this and not respect me”, he thought to himself. “Why, even James and John are plotting to be leaders. I just exposed their plot when they went behind my back and enlisted the help of their mother. Thankfully, I got the other guys to rebuke them as well.” (Matthew 20:20-24) He becomes all the more eager to prove himself. “Even if all abandon you, I shall never leave you.” (Matthew 26:33) You can imagine the eye rolls and the groans at the last supper. “Seriously Peter, why do you need to puff yourself up by tearing us down?”

“Before the cock crows twice, you would have denied me three times.” (Mark 14:30)

The Denial of Saint Peter-Caravaggio (1610)

This must have hurt even more than the first rebuke.

It triggered even more insecurity.

And it was bravado from then on, likely as a form of overcompensation.

He could not stay awake one hour, as his master requested. (Matthew 26:40)

But he was willing to draw his sword, strike out when completely outnumbered. He made a heroic attempt to protect his Master, wanting to die a hero (John 18:10), only to be told by his master the equivalent of “don’t be ridiculous,” “could I not summon 12 legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53), i.e., I don’t need a bodyguard.    

Stung by that rebuke, his third public failure, he followed his master from a distance.

We know the rest of the story.

He managed to clock in three more failures within the space of three hours.

“I swear I do not know him, and immediately a cock crew.”  (Matthew 26:74)

iii) Peter realised that Jesus, the one whom he followed, loved him even if he failed, and wanted to pick him up.

“And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Luke 26:61-62)

This was the only time the Bible records Peter as having wept. His failure this time seemed catastrophic and irreversible.

Yet through the dark days of the crucifixion, he was still somehow able to hold himself together and not despair.

It was the look of our Lord after his triple denial.

Not that of disappointment or disdain.

But of mercy and compassion.

It must have made him recall the other things Jesus had said to him at the last supper, especially those just before his prediction of his denial.

“Simon Simon, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you. That your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 21:31-32)

“He had expected me to fail in my actions. But he never for once doubted that my faith in him would fail. But he believed that because I did not fail the ultimate test, I will also bounce back. The least I can do for him, even as I failed him when he was alive, is not to fail his community, even when he has died. I am still their leader.”

They still turned to him on the third day, to announce the news of the empty tomb. To await directions from him on what to do next.

And he was there, still at his post, with the others, when Jesus finally appeared to all of them.

“Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36) “Have you got anything to eat?” (Luke 24:41)

Peter’s joy must have been indescribable.

He does not hate me!

And then finally, his time with the Lord.

“Simon son of John do you love (agape) me? (John 21:16)

“Lord you know everything, you know that I love (phileo) you.” (John 21:17)

Three times the conversation went.

There is now no longer bravado. Just honesty. Lord, I am fond of you. Saying that I will give my life for you (agape) would be saying too much. I won’t do that anymore. But I am your friend. (phileo)

That was good enough for the Lord.

“Feed my sheep” (John 21:17)

Perugino, Christ Giving the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter, Sistine Chapel, 1481–83, fresco, 330.1 x 548.64 cm (Vatican, Rome)

Peter went on to be the leader of the fledgling Christian community. And the 1st Pope of the Catholic Church.

He did so, not because he had never failed.

But because he did.

And the Lord loved him, through it all.

And he grew as a person, as a disciple, and as a leader.

In my next column, I would like to reflect a bit more on one dimension that we immediately associate with when we hear the word “fail” in the spiritual life.

Moral failure.

Otherwise known as sin.

Especially of the persistent kind.

But in the meantime, Saint Peter, model of those who fail, pray for us.

Nick Chui

Nick Chui, B.A, M.T.S, is a professional educator and lay theologian with an Honours degree in History from the National University of Singapore, a Post Graduate Diploma from the National Institute of Education and a Masters in Theology from the John Paul II institute for Marriage and Family. A member of the Catholic Theology Network and a Research Fellow in Marriage and Family for the Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE). He speaks and writes in both academic and popular settings to diverse audiences and has collaborated with Catholic Radio on a series of podcasts on the Synod on Synodality, and the significance of Pope Francis visit to Singapore. He has been a catechist for over 20 years and is currently at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea.

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The Camino Canticle: God's Mercy and Grace