He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Mk 1:38-39

Peter and the other apostles feel the pressure of the crowd who wants to see Jesus and they bring this pressure to Jesus. Each of us has experienced a pressure to let other people’s opinions and agendas run our lives. And while we certainly have responsibilities to the people around us, we must be careful not to allow their opinions of what we should or shouldn’t do be the guiding factor of our life.

Jesus turns this situation into a teachable moment and tells Peter — whom he will later make the head of his Church — to calm down and always put God first. He had a clear understanding of his highest priority and purpose. By not letting the pressure of the crowd determine his actions, Jesus teaches Peter the important of being purpose driven rather than not crowd driven.

While you can’t plan for teachable moments, you can prepare for them by getting your priorities in order. Ask God for the wisdom and insight to understand your priorities and to have the right priorities so you can pass them on to others.