“You must tell me what troubles you,” said He, just as gently as before, and with an even greater love in His voice.
But now Saint Peter jumped up; and then our Lord knew that he was not only disconsolate, but downright angry. He came toward our Lord with clenched fists and snapping eyes.
“Now I want a dismissal from your service!” said Saint Peter. “I can not remain another day in Paradise.”
Our Lord tried to calm him, just as He had been obliged to do many times before, when Saint Peter had flared up.
“Oh, certainly you can go,” said He, “but you must first tell me what it is that displeases you.”
“I can tell you that I awaited a better reward than this when we two endured all sorts of misery down on earth,” said Saint Peter.
Our Lord saw that Saint Peter’s soul was filled with bitterness, and He felt no anger at him.
“I tell you that you are free to go whither you will,” said He, “if you will only let me know what is troubling you.”
Then, at last, Saint Peter told our Lord why he was so unhappy. “I had an old mother,” said he, “and she died a few days ago.”
“Now I know what distresses you,” said our Lord. “You suffer because your mother has not come into Paradise.”