Simon Peter Denied Jesus for Three Times

(Reflection for Tuesday of the Holy Week)

Excerpts from the Gospel:

Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. God will glorify him, and he will glorify him very soon. My children I am with you for only a little while; you will look for me, but, as I already told the Jews, so now I tell you: where I am going you cannot come.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, where I am going you cannot follow me now, but afterwards you will.” Peter said, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I am ready to give my life for you.” Jesus answered, “To give my life for me! Truly, I tell you, the cock will not crow before you have denied me three times.” (John 13:31-33, 36-38)

Reflections:

Peter said, “I am ready to give my life for you.” He believes that he can do all things for Christ. He can offer even his own life. However, he does not know what entails of following Christ. As Jesus said that to follow him is to deny ourselves and take up our crosses. But, Peter was not able to foresee himself in the real situation of following Christ. Instead of denying himself, he denied Jesus not just once but thrice. In the contemporary term, what was said by Peter is “Yabang lang” (Boastfulness) and “Salita lang” (Just words but no action). He has no consistency to his word and faith. Though Jesus has already given all to them the strength in spirit, still they do not have the courage to be firm on their faith. All the apostles have all the privilege of being with Jesus throughout his mission, yet they are still lack of confidence to show the world their discipleship to him. Thus, we can find in the gospel that in the end and at the foot of the cross, only John, Mary (Jesus’ mother), and Magdalene were present. Peter was not even there as he said in the last supper that he is ready to give his life for Jesus. While Jesus was carrying the cross to the Calgary, Peter denied him for three times. That event was one of Peter’s crosses that unfortunately, he was not able to carry.

Sometimes, we are like Peter and some of apostles. From the resurrection, Jesus is in constant companionship to us. As he said, “I am with you, always.” Thus, in our life, his constant guidance and blessings are with us. But, like Peter, there were times that we become weak and choose to deny him though we recognize his very presence. We are reminded and guided by the spirit, yet, we choose the other way around. We act not in accordance to our faith.

We proclaimed that in our heart is for God and that he is number one in our life. Yet, in times of trial, we break our words. How many times in our life that we experience denying the prompting of the Holy Spirit? Do we act as if we do not recognize what Jesus is done for us?

Yet, after all the denial made by Peter, Jesus does not condemn him. Instead, Jesus even entrusted to him the continuation of the mission of the Church as he is recognized now as the first pope of the Catholic Church. God is always open for change of every heart. Jesus entrusted to us the life that we are living now. God knows that we could pass the trials of life. Even how many times that we could deny him, God will never deny us. Forever, his love is always there for us.