Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.
Matthew 26:69-75
Reflection Prayer
Jesus, You knew Peter’s heart deeply and had great love for him. You also knew he would deny You. Although he said he would never do such a thing, Your Heart knew differently. When the time came, and Peter denied You as You had foretold, You knew the pain this would cause him. You felt it deeply in Your Heart. You knew he would suffer from knowing he had denied the One who was his Savior, the Son of God. It was his fear that kept him from acknowledging he knew You. The sadness that must have filled Your Heart when it happened, knowing the pain that filled the heart of Your beloved disciple! Yet, You had plans for him greater than he could imagine. Your love for him would consume his pain. Your Heart would heal the wounds of his heart. He would proclaim Your name, Your goodness, Your truth. You would transform him. Your Heart of mercy would redeem him and all of us!
Your Heart redeems me as well, Jesus, and all who deny You out of fear, even though we know You to be our Savior. When we cower in fear, Your Heart aches for us, too. You desire for us to be free to love You and acknowledge You as who You truly are and proclaim this truth to whoever asks if we are one of Your followers. Your Heart aches when we do not follow through and acknowledge this truth, for You know the pain we will endure when we come to realize how we have denied the truth and the One who created us, loved us, and sacrificed all for us. However, just as You did with Peter, You will redeem us, save us, and heal us if we only turn back to You.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, heal my brokenness, my wounds, the crevices in my heart that are filled with fear and pain. Permeate those areas of my heart with the love and mercy of Your Most Sacred Heart, so I may always proclaim the truth of who You are with joy-my Savior, my Redeemer, my God!
*Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition.