Betrayal
As their eyes met, one felt shame, the other gratitude.
One felt fear, the other love.
One was horrified, the other relieved.
United in the pain of seeing a loved one suffer.
Who wouldn’t give their life to save a most dear one?
When we imagine Jesus feeling abandoned and
crushed by Peter’s denial,
when we interpret Jesus’s three questions
as the path for reparations,
we deny the love of Jesus for Peter and for us.
We always sensed an easy connection with Peter’s shame,
and now we can truly understand why.
Reflection and Prayer
It is tempting to focus on the weakness of those who betray Jesus this week, and perhaps then turn inward, feeling badly about how we may have betrayed Jesus or others in the past. But there is a more loving response. Look deeply at the love Jesus feels towards his betrayers. If someone you love, for instance your daughter, faced the choice of lying about your relationship or being killed, what would you want her to do? Take some time to sit with how much Jesus loved Peter and allow that love to seep into your heart…because he feels exactly the same toward you.
Jesus not only tolerated Judas, he loved him completely with all his being. An “I love you no matter what” rather than “I love you anyway” kind of love. This is the unfair, unconditional love of Jesus offered to all of us. Ask Jesus to bring to your awareness someone in your life whom
you judge as somehow less than you—really, take the courage to be honest. Then ask Jesus to reveal to you, deeply, in your heart, how much he loves that person. Then, take Jesus’ hand in yours and offer a blessing to that person in your own words spoken out loud. Make a conscious effort the rest of this week to offer this blessing throughout the day.