Reflection

 

(Reading from the Gospel of St. Mark)

 

 

     They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes were assembled.

Peter has followed him at a distance right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting with the guards, worming himself at the fire.

     Now the chief priest and the whole counsel were looking for a testimony against Jesus to put him to death.

     They found none.

     Many brought false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him saying: 'We heard him say; "I will destroy this temple that was made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands"'. But even in this point their testimony did not agree.

     And the high priest stood up before them, and asked Jesus; "Have you not answer?, what is it that they testify against you?".

     But He was silent, and did not answer.

  Again the hight priest asked Him; "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

    Jesus said; "I am. And you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of the power, and coming with the clouds of Heaven."

   And then, the high priest tore his clothes and said; "Why do we still need witnesses?, you heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?". All of them condemned Him as deserving death.

    Some began to spit on Him, to blind hold him, and to strike Him saying to him; "Prophesy!"

     The guards also took Him over and beat Him.

    While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself she stared at him and said; "You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth." But he denied saying; "I do not know or understand what you're talking about". And he went out into the forth court. 

     Then the cock crowed.

    And the servant goes on saying to the bystanders; "This man is one of them." But again, he denied it.And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter;"Certainly, you are one of them, you are a Galilean." But he began to curse and note; "I do not know this man that your are talking about."

     At that moment, the cock crowed for the second time.

    Then, Peter remembered that Jesus has said to him; "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times."

     And he broke down, and wept.

 

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    Peter run away, but he's forced himself to come back. His courage swells, and then he flees.

    As we listen to the Gospel story, it looks like a film where scenes between Jesus and Peter are intercut. 

  Jesus is interrogated by the Jerusalem Jewish aristocracy; 'Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?'

    Peter is interrogated by a servant girl;  'You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth'.

Jesus seems to draw strength from his accusers.

Peter's weakness is diminished by this girl.

     Jesus made his confession 'I am'.

     Peter makes his denial 'I am not'.

   As the cock crows the sun runs from the truth, that Peter is not longer with Jesus, as he was called at the beginning of the Gospel.

  Jesus' aloness is grown by Peter, as Peter can only weep bitterly at his failure.

 

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   Do I see myself anywhere downstairs, or downstairs scene?

   Do I draw strength from Jesus' integrity, and being with him in spite of the consequences?

   Do I feel sorry for Peter, recognizing that I too, had traveled the road of denying who I am, despite my feelings?

   Do I fell Jesus still drawing me into His mercy?

 

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   Dearest Jesus, teach us to be generous, to serve you as you deserve, to give but not to count the cost, to fight and not to hit the wound, to labor and not to seek for any reward, except to know that we're doing your holy will. Amen.

 

 

* From Stations of the Cross, Laudate