Mtr Margaret Babcock

Dear Friends,

The Gospel reading today includes part of Luke’s account of the Last Supper—Jesus preparing his disciples for his coming death. He singles out Peter, foretelling he will deny Jesus three times rather than face the cross with him.

One sentence caught my attention. Jesus says to his most enthusiastic disciple: “When you come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.” (The Message, Luke 22:32)

This sounded familiar. Where had I heard something similar? Aha! It’s the final item in AA’s twelve steps: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice them.”

If you or someone you love has worked through the 12 steps, you know that recovery isn’t complete until embracing this last action. The process of facing faults (whether Peter’s denial of Christ or the train wreck of addiction) must include confronting shame and guilt caused by actions we never believed ourselves capable of. That’s a big step. However, only when we accept forgiveness and forgive ourselves can failure transform into our greatest strength-compassion. Out of such grace, we turn to others and help them get fresh starts, too.

I wonder… When the cock crowed and Peter realized that fear for his own life triumphed over his avowed love for Jesus, how did that proud man feel? I suspect he was devastated. But as he wept over his failing, surely, he also remembered Christ’s words, “When you come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.”

Here’s the thing about that anchoring sentence: Jesus gave Peter this trust-filled charge before he warned him of his fall. He doesn’t say “if you avoid this test” or “if you come through this test.” Christ gives all his love and confidence to a man he knows is flawed and will betray him. I suspect remembering that love allowed Peter to forgive himself, take up the ministry Jesus offered him, and become the glue which held the early disciples together.

The gift we await in Advent is the Incarnation of God’s love for each of us. In the darkest hours, remember that Christ knows and loves us, flaws and all. Open that present first, and let guilt, pain and sorrow be transformed into compassion for others.

Blessings,

—Mtr Margaret