Father John Schmoll
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
This past Sunday (Passion “Palm” Sunday), in the Roman Catholic tradition, we listened to the Passion of the Lord from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. I invite us to reflect upon “a look” of Jesus during this powerful passage.
To do this, I ask us to assume the role of one person, St. Peter the Apostle.
The denial of Peter regarding Jesus is in all the Gospel accounts. Following the denial in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Peter breaks down and weeps.
In John, Peter’s response is not described. However, only in Luke do we have a silent “conversation” between Jesus and Peter.
Jesus foretells the denial of Peter: “[Peter] said to him, ‘Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.’ But [Jesus] replied, I tell you Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me’” Luke 22:33-34.
After the third denial, Peter hears the cock crow, “and the Lord turned and looked at Peter… Peter went out and began to weep bitterly” Luke 22:61a, 62.
This, for me, is one of the most powerful scenes in the entire four tellings of the Gospel. It is a conversation without words, yet it is of the most profound reality. The entire conversation is contained in one look. Jesus knows that Peter will falter. He knows that Peter will sin.
Jesus, who has been with Peter for three years, and Peter with Him. Peter, who is often reprimanded by Jesus, but is never afraid to “take the word” and try to answer the questions of the Lord.
Peter truly believes that he will never deny the Lord. Peter truly loves the Lord. But in that moment when he sees what is happening to Jesus, he is frightened. That fear leads to fear for his own self. Peter does not deny Jesus because he does not love Jesus.
He denies Jesus because he is full of fear for his own life. It is that fear that leads to his denial. It is only in Luke’s telling that Jesus looksat Peter. When their eyes lock, when Jesus looks at Peter with love, Peter is overwhelmed by the look of love.
He goes out and weeps bitterly. He weeps because he is a weak man, but he truly weeps because he knows how much Jesus loves him. Even in his sin. Even in his denial. Even in knowing that Jesus will forgive him for something he thought he would never do.
Let us put ourselves in this scene. Let us become Peter. Jesus knows my weakness. Jesus knows my sin. The question is, “Do I know it?”
Like Peter, I often think so highly of myself that I could never succumb to denial. Yet, in the heat of the moment of every single sin I commit, I know I deny Jesus.
I feel so bad about myself after my sin. The last person I want to see me like this is Jesus. I know He will give me a look of “I toldyou so!” But that is not the look that Peter receives, and neither is it the look I receive.
Jesus does not give Peter “that” look because Jesus already told him so in the foretelling. Jesus gives him the look that Peter needs, the look of forgiveness and mercy. The look of mercy proclaims to Peter and me, I give you another chance. Not a second chance.
Another chance. Another chance to proclaim Jesus. Another chance to experience his love.
Peter’s denial is another sin that leads to the Crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus truly died for our sins (past, present and future). But in the Gospel according to John, Peter celebrates another look.
It is a look following the Resurrection of Jesus. Three denials of Jesus before the Crucifixion. Three questions from Jesus following the Resurrection John 21:15-17. “Peter, do you love me?” After his three denials, Jesus still loves Peter. He has more work for Peter to do.
“Feed my lambs/Tend my sheep.” It is the same look from Jesus. Jesus only knows one look, the look of love. May we always experience that look, no matter what.
A most blessed Easter for us all! Peace!
