Psalms 45, 47 * 48; Isaiah 9:1-7; 2 Peter 1:12-21; Luke 22:54-69Peter denies Jesus three times in today's reading and then looks up, while he is in the midst of his third denial of knowing Jesus, and the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. What a dramatic set piece Luke paints for us today. Imagine the look on both of their faces, the realization setting into Peter's eyes and posture. How crushed at his own weakness, living into a prophesy foretold just a short while before.
We are challenged today to face that which we are denying. To rid ourselves of fantasies and live into the reality of our individual lives. And, as importantly, take the steps necessary to correct, make amends for, own up to, our mistakes. Those errors do not have to control our future; just as they did not ruin Peter's life, our lives can be vastly different if we take those necessary steps to face the reality that surrounds us.
A good Advent exercise.
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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
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