Denial

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!’ Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’ At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:52-62

We all have participated in intentional denial, from denying our real behaviors to denying a friend to save our own skin or simply to fit in. Fear is a wonderful and terrible motivator, particularly when we find ourselves in dangerous, life-threatening positions. Peter was in one of those positions and in denying Jesus, he broke his own heart. His love for his friend was overshadowed by real fear. The good news of our story is that Peter goes on to be forgiven and become the head of the church. The bumbling fisherman, who often out both feet in his mouth, was set free to love by divine forgiveness, as are all of us.

Loving Creator, when dawns again

you are there as we wake to life

and you are there in our dark sleeps

and with us in our deepest fears.

You know thar we often deny you

by the way we are selfish and cruel

by not turning to help our neighbor

and when we live for attention alone.

Help us to know see your love for us

which forgives our weakness and shame

may we live humbly and grateful today

knowing you are there in all our trials. Amen.