Lent Meditation Day 30
One of the most heartbreaking accounts in the Bible to me is in Luke Chapter 22, after Peter’s third denial of Christ.
A Note from Ruth
These meditations are a reflection of my personal journey through Lent at a time when I was experiencing deep spiritual growth and learning what it means to grow in community as a student at the Academy for Formation and Mission. In part, I wrote them to process my own thoughts, but mainly to share those contemplations, because I felt they were meant to be experienced by others. My hope was to encourage others to go deep, to see God and Lent with a new perspective, and to self-reflect in a way that brings hope.
“Just as he (Peter) was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
I wonder what the gaze between Jesus and Peter felt like. Was Jesus hurt? Was Peter ashamed? I would imaging both of these would be true. One thing I know for sure, Jesus loved Peter, even when Peter denied him. I think Peter loved Jesus too, even though he failed him.
I’d like to imagine that when I mess up, and Jesus and I finally see eye to eye, when I have to admit that it’s true to myself and to him, his gaze is one of compassion.
After all, he knows what it is like to be human. His goal is not to judge, not to condemn, but to pick us up, even in our shame, and lift our chin to look at him. And what we see is pure love.
A love that keeps no record of wrong.