Richard Kuns
Good morning!
Today’s Daily Office presents us with a constellation of readings that cluster around a common theme -- your faith, your words, and your actions. Psalm 26 gives a glimpse of an early poet who is so self-confident that he invites God to take a close look at his conscience and heart.
Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my wholeness, and the Lord I have trusted. I shall not stumble. Test me, O Lord, and try me. Burn pure my conscience and my heart.
(Psalm 26:1-2, Robert Alter)
Who would ask for such a close encounter with God? “Judge me…Test me…Try me…Burn pure”. Keep these words in mind when we read about Peter’s overconfident pledge to Jesus.
1 Kings 8:65-9:9 gives us a glimpse into King Solomon’s early years as Israel’s monarch. Solomon is beginning to feel the enticement of political power. He built a glorious Temple over a period of 7 years and spent another 13 years building the royal palace. The Lord blesses and sanctifies the Temple but also sounds a strong word of caution: …if you walk before Me, as David your father walked, wholeheartedly and uprightly… I shall raise up the throne of your kingdom forever… [but] If you and your sons actually turn back from Me and do not keep My commandments… (1 Kings 9:4ff, Robert Alter) The faith you profess organically finds authenticity in your life’s daily work.
James’s epistle makes a clear point about how the actions of your life and the faith you profess are two sides of one whole.…be people who do the word, not merely people who hear it and deceive themselves… What use is it, my dear family, if someone says they have faith when they don’t have works?... faith without works is lifeless… just as the body without the spirit is dead, you see, so faith without works is dead… (James 1:21; 2:14, 20, 26, N T Wright)
But what happens when you want to do the right thing, but you do just the opposite? This was Peter’s situation in today’s gospel reading. (Mark 14:66-72). Peter made big promises to Jesus during the night of his arrest but found himself powerless to follow through. Jesus warned the disciples that the next several hours will be so frightening that every one of them will cut and run. Peter is so upset that he blurts out:
…Everyone else may desert you, BUT I WON’T… Even if I have to die with you, I will never renounce you. (Mark 14:29, 31; N T Wright)
Mark adds an editorial point to Peter’s outburst: And all the rest said the same. Peter does follow Jesus at a distance, but everyone else ran away.
Peter finds himself alone in the high priest’s courtyard surrounded by a hostile crowd without any friends to ease his discomfort. (Mark 14:54; N T Wright) The early morning hours are cold, and Peter stands close to the fire trying to warm himself. The crowd standing around the fire question who this stranger is and confront him about his association with Jesus of Nazareth. At first there is a simple denial: …I don’t know what on earth you’re talking about… (Mark 14: 68; N T Wright)
Then the conversations become edgy, pushing Peter’s buttons. One of the bystanders calls Peter out: …You really are one of them, aren’t you? You’re a Galilean!... (Mark 14:70). Peter’s accent betrayed him and marked him. Peter snapped and began to curse and swear. …I don’t know this man you’re talking about… (Mark 14:71; N T Wright) Somewhere in the early light of dawn a rooster crows and Peter remembers his promise. He remembers the words of his friend and teacher. He remembers Jesus reminding him that he would not have the will to stand strong!
Mark’s recollection of what happens next is concise, without any commentary: He burst into tears… (v. 72). Matthew and Luke report Peter’s reaction: …And he went outside and wept bitterly… (Luke 22:62; N T Wright; Matthew 26:75)
Regret for promises made and not kept! Remorse for words spoken but can’t be taken back. This is Peter’s story, but not the whole story. It is also our story, but not the whole story. After the resurrection, Jesus and Peter eat breakfast together on the shores of Galilee. Jesus reaches out to Peter and invites him to reaffirm his love for Jesus. Jesus warns Peter the road will not be any easier but stay close and follow me. (John 21:9-19)
We too are flawed, weak and powerless to do all that we say we can do. This is our story, but Jesus changes the story and invites us morning after morning to reaffirm our love for him. We are people called by grace, transformed by love, and sent to serve.
Richard R. Kuns