Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”
Luke 22:34
We love to pick on Peter.
He is such an easy target.
In today’s reading from Luke, he boasts that he is ready to follow Jesus to prison and even to death before Jesus bluntly proceeds to remove Peter’s foot from his mouth (see verse above).
Peter has leadership qualities, without a doubt. But his leadership is lacking a sense of direction.
And perhaps worst of all, he proudly believed he was immunized against all unfaithfulness to Jesus.
It doesn’t matter which of the gospels one reads, he is portrayed as impulsive, but fallible, and flawed – like all of us.
It’s been said that if we were to look in a mirror hard enough, we would see Peter staring back at us.
The choice of Peter demonstrates how the Lord works through the weak realities of this world. Despite the fact that Peter did go on to deny Jesus three times, Jesus brought Peter back from shame to lead his church.
Peter stands for every Christian – a community of common sinners in the process of being loved into being and truth by the living God.
You and I have denied Jesus multiple times in our lives. Our faith fails us, yet Jesus shows again and again complete confidence in all of us.
We cannot do anything without Jesus. Neither can we truly care for ourselves even though we work very hard to establish our lives on our own as well as to maintain them.
That is what we are as the church – a community of imperfect people, forgiven and loved by God, and sent into the world to make the Lord’s rescuing and sustaining actions available to all people, to be a reflection of Christ’s redeeming love.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 101)
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Artwork: The Denial of St Peter, Theodoor Rombouts (1597–1637), LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna
