Daily Retreat 04/22/07
2007 Apr 22 SUN: THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 5: 27-32. 40b-41/ Ps 29(30): 2. 4. 5-6. 11-12. 13 (2a)/ Rv 5: 11-14/ Jn 21: 1-19
From today's readings: "We must obey God rather than men.... I will praise You, Lord, for You have rescued me.... Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.... Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"
Making Amends
Peter's threefold denial of Christ on the night of His Passion must have weighed so heavily on his heart - the Gospels record (Luke 22:62), how, after the rooster crowed, and Peter remembered Christ's prediction, he regretted his words and wept bitterly. Surely, he would have wished with all his might that he had never said such words of denial, and you and I probably have at least some inkling of his anguish, because we can think of words of our own which we wish we had never spoken!
The Gospels do not indicate that Peter had the gumption to take the first step and apologize to Jesus. In fact, there's no record of any of the apostles telling their resurrected Lord how sorry they were for abandoning Him during His Passion. Jesus, however, did not stand aloof and wait for them to apologize - instead, He took the initiative, and appeared to them, and then even gently elicited a threefold affirmation from Peter of his love, thereby helping Peter make amends for his threefold denial.
You and I are like Peter, because we've said things we wish we hadn't said, but we're also like Jesus, because people have spoken words to us, or about us, which wounded with the sharpness of betrayal and denial. Like Peter, we need to make amends to the best of our ability for any cruel or disloyal words, and Jesus will gently but firmly help us to take the initiative in doing this. Likewise, even though wounded pride would have us forever waiting aloof for those who have hurt us to make the first move toward reconciliation, following Jesus, the more Christ-like attitude is to magnanimously provide an opportunity for bitter words to be buried with better words.
Acts 5: 27-32. 40b-41/ Ps 29(30): 2. 4. 5-6. 11-12. 13 (2a)/ Rv 5: 11-14/ Jn 21: 1-19
From today's readings: "We must obey God rather than men.... I will praise You, Lord, for You have rescued me.... Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.... Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"
Making Amends
Peter's threefold denial of Christ on the night of His Passion must have weighed so heavily on his heart - the Gospels record (Luke 22:62), how, after the rooster crowed, and Peter remembered Christ's prediction, he regretted his words and wept bitterly. Surely, he would have wished with all his might that he had never said such words of denial, and you and I probably have at least some inkling of his anguish, because we can think of words of our own which we wish we had never spoken!
The Gospels do not indicate that Peter had the gumption to take the first step and apologize to Jesus. In fact, there's no record of any of the apostles telling their resurrected Lord how sorry they were for abandoning Him during His Passion. Jesus, however, did not stand aloof and wait for them to apologize - instead, He took the initiative, and appeared to them, and then even gently elicited a threefold affirmation from Peter of his love, thereby helping Peter make amends for his threefold denial.
You and I are like Peter, because we've said things we wish we hadn't said, but we're also like Jesus, because people have spoken words to us, or about us, which wounded with the sharpness of betrayal and denial. Like Peter, we need to make amends to the best of our ability for any cruel or disloyal words, and Jesus will gently but firmly help us to take the initiative in doing this. Likewise, even though wounded pride would have us forever waiting aloof for those who have hurt us to make the first move toward reconciliation, following Jesus, the more Christ-like attitude is to magnanimously provide an opportunity for bitter words to be buried with better words.
posted by FrPitstick | 4/20/2007
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