Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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The readings for today are so rich and moving. The Gospel is a homily in itself.
Let’s focus on just one part of the Passion found in Luke’s Gospel on this Palm Sunday. It takes place in the High Priest’s Courtyard just after Jesus was arrested and taken there. It is the time when Peter wept.
We remember that earlier at the Last Super, Peter told Jesus that he was willing to go to prison for him, even die with him. Jesus said to him, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Now, Peter is in the High Priest’s Courtyard gathered with some other curiosity seekers. His face is lit by a fire in the middle of the courtyard. Jesus is standing nearby about to be led before the high priest. And Peter acted just as Jesus had predicted. When questioned by three people about his relationship to Jesus, Peter gave the same response, “I do not know the man.”
This is the part of the story I want to focus on, because the story becomes so poignant here, and we can’t let this detail escape us. When Peter had finished denying Jesus the third time, Jesus, who was within earshot of this betrayal, turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered what the Lord had said and “(Peter) went out and began to weep bitterly.”
It was at that moment that Peter knew that he was a man in need of forgiveness. He was a man in need of salvation. He wept and must have remembered what he said to Jesus on the day he met him along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
I hope that we all take the time to make this week holy. In other words, I hope that we want to make this week different than any other week of the year. Read the bible, watch a movie on the life of Christ, spend some time in silence, come to the liturgies of this week – all of them are so beautiful and moving. And let Jesus look at you. And, if you need to weep, then weep. Know that you are not alone. All of us are sinners, me being the first to admit it to you. And, if you need to accept his love for you, then let the eyes of Jesus love you. No one should leave this week without knowing the love that God has for them. And if you need to beg for some favor, this is the week to do it: perhaps that favor of wanting to be a better disciple, a better witness, and a better husband or wife, a better son or daughter. If you doubt your faith, then ask for faith. If you despair, then ask for hope. But look into the eyes of Jesus and let him look into yours.
From experience I tell you, if you let Jesus look upon you – with eyes that see every one of your sins, every one of your dreams, and every one of your needs – if you let the eyes of Jesus meet your eyes – then you will never be the same again. Peter wasn’t. I wasn’t. No one can be the same once our eyes have looked into the eyes of God. We will see eyes that care for us even when we betray him, we will see eyes willing to die for us even when we sin against him, and we will see eyes that long for our return every time we run away from him. Now is the time to run back to him. And, next week, on Easter, we will run to an empty tomb and find Jesus alive and calling us by name. Weeping will turn to joy. He will call us to life once more.
Have a blessed Holy Week – let’s make the most of these next few days.