Monday of Holy Week (April 14). REMEMBER

Prepare to Listen.  O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!  (Ps 118:1)
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 22:31-34 and 54-62
31‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’  33And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’  34Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’
 
54Then they seized [Jesus] and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house.  But Peter was following at a distance.  55When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.  56Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’  57But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’  58A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’  But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’  59Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’  60But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’  At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed.  61The Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’  62And he went out and wept bitterly.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
“The Lord turned and looked at Peter.”  Imagine that look.  What do you think was in it?
 
Luke frequently diverts from his fellow Gospel writers, as he does here, telling of Peter’s denial immediately after Judas’ betrayal.  He’s also the only one to mention that, after the third denial and the cock crow, Jesus turned and looked at Peter.  Did the look include sorrow or a sense of abandonment?  Peter, seeing Jesus face to face, woke up and he “remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’”  Did he also remember Jesus’ warning that he’d fail and how he’d proudly claimed, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and death.”
 
Repentance can only happen when we remember.  Peter needed to remember, not just Jesus’ warning, but his arrogant refusal to believe him, convinced he’d never deny his Lord.  After the cock crowed, Jesus turned and looked at him.  Then Peter remembered.  Did he also remember Jesus’ promise to pray for him, that his faith wouldn’t fail and that he’d turn back, that is, repent?  Perhaps he did because his repentance was real and deep: “He went out and wept bitterly.”  Peter’s faith didn’t fail.  He turned back, joined the disciples and Jesus.  After the ascension, Peter became a leader who strengthened his brothers and sisters, including you and me today.
 
Take time to remember and, if necessary, repent (change your mind and heart) in a way that is appropriate and true to Jesus.
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, you are always compassionate and ready to welcome us back even when we fail you.  Thank you.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Remember.