WEEK SEVENTEEN: SENTENCE OF DEATH AND PASSION DAY 4
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
MORNING PRAYER: Act of Faith; Act of Hope; Act of Charity; Daily Offering
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Luke 22: 58-62: Peter's Denial of Jesus:"...About an hour later, still another insisted, "Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "My friend, I do not know what you are talking about." Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny my three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly" [Please read Luke 22: 54- 65 for a better appreciation of the passage].
Read the Reflection; then pray using Luke 22: 58-62; ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, tears and deep grief because of the great affliction Christ endures for me (#203).
In the Upper Room, Jesus predicted that his disciples' faith in him would be shaken. Peter insisted that his faith would not be shaken and that he would even die with his Master. It is then that Jesus predicted Peter's denial of him. The heart-rending account of Peter's denial is painful to read. In his first denial to the maid, Peter said that he did not know Jesus. The second time his accusers insisted that Peter was one of Jesus' disciples, and Peter denied the truth. The third time, his accusers insisted that Peter was Jesus' disciple because he too was a Galilean like Jesus. Once again Peter denied the truth. Mark's version is quite graphic: "He began to curse and to swear, "I do not know this man about whom you are talking." (Mark 14: 71) It is then that the cock crowed and "the Lord turned and looked at Peter." (Luke 22: 61) Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him in the Upper Room. One could spend hours pondering on the gaze exchanged between Jesus and Peter. As this painful saga unfolded, Peter's faith and commitment to his Master sank into the dregs. In a jiffy, three years of discipleship careened towards disaster. The saving grace was that Peter stayed with the community of disciples in the Upper Room.
Peter has been living a fairly safe life with Jesus. He had been attending Church, been following Jesus and listening to Jesus. He had seen the joys of people being healed, he had it pretty comfortable, in his own mind he was in a good place. How many of us are living in this safe place, Church attendance, faithful prayer life, an all around good person. Peter had been living in a community of believers not having to go beyond now the court yard was different, he was being challenged. The opportunities that God gives us to proclaim Him are there in our lives, will we be known as one of his followers or will we deny who He is by our actions. When we go beyond and claim who He is we are releasing the Holy Spirit to go to work, we get to see Jesus in action. Peter denied Him but he learned from this and became an ardent disciple because of it.
What is God saying to you? Witness My love today.
Dear Father, we are blessed to see you in action through others who claim who You are by their actions. To witness the Holy Spirit impact the world around us brings new life, brings joy to others and pleases You. Thank You Father for this day and the quiet morning listening to the birds chirp. Watch over us this day, give us courage when we are called upon in the courtyard. Bless this day and all it has to offer, Amen.
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Luke 22: 58-62: Peter's Denial of Jesus:"...About an hour later, still another insisted, "Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "My friend, I do not know what you are talking about." Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny my three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly" [Please read Luke 22: 54- 65 for a better appreciation of the passage].
Read the Reflection; then pray using Luke 22: 58-62; ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, tears and deep grief because of the great affliction Christ endures for me (#203).
In the Upper Room, Jesus predicted that his disciples' faith in him would be shaken. Peter insisted that his faith would not be shaken and that he would even die with his Master. It is then that Jesus predicted Peter's denial of him. The heart-rending account of Peter's denial is painful to read. In his first denial to the maid, Peter said that he did not know Jesus. The second time his accusers insisted that Peter was one of Jesus' disciples, and Peter denied the truth. The third time, his accusers insisted that Peter was Jesus' disciple because he too was a Galilean like Jesus. Once again Peter denied the truth. Mark's version is quite graphic: "He began to curse and to swear, "I do not know this man about whom you are talking." (Mark 14: 71) It is then that the cock crowed and "the Lord turned and looked at Peter." (Luke 22: 61) Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him in the Upper Room. One could spend hours pondering on the gaze exchanged between Jesus and Peter. As this painful saga unfolded, Peter's faith and commitment to his Master sank into the dregs. In a jiffy, three years of discipleship careened towards disaster. The saving grace was that Peter stayed with the community of disciples in the Upper Room.
Peter has been living a fairly safe life with Jesus. He had been attending Church, been following Jesus and listening to Jesus. He had seen the joys of people being healed, he had it pretty comfortable, in his own mind he was in a good place. How many of us are living in this safe place, Church attendance, faithful prayer life, an all around good person. Peter had been living in a community of believers not having to go beyond now the court yard was different, he was being challenged. The opportunities that God gives us to proclaim Him are there in our lives, will we be known as one of his followers or will we deny who He is by our actions. When we go beyond and claim who He is we are releasing the Holy Spirit to go to work, we get to see Jesus in action. Peter denied Him but he learned from this and became an ardent disciple because of it.
What is God saying to you? Witness My love today.
Dear Father, we are blessed to see you in action through others who claim who You are by their actions. To witness the Holy Spirit impact the world around us brings new life, brings joy to others and pleases You. Thank You Father for this day and the quiet morning listening to the birds chirp. Watch over us this day, give us courage when we are called upon in the courtyard. Bless this day and all it has to offer, Amen.
Mary, Our Lady of Victory, Pray for us
St Joesph, Chaste Spouse of the Mother of God, Pray For us.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
No comments:
Post a Comment