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Today's Sayings
I have seen what you want;
it is there,
a Beloved of infinite
tenderness.
*Catherine of Siena.
"Consumed in Grace"
Yes. I think we each go through seasons of "cleaning out," of contrition and renewal. Thankfully, Grace is more merciful than others often are toward us and we to ourselves.
*Brian K. Wilcox. Private Correspondence, January 12, 2009
Today's Scriptures
Psalm 51.10 (ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Luke 22.54-65 (CEV)
54Jesus was arrested and led away to the house of the high priest, while Peter followed at a distance. 55Some people built a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were sitting around it. Peter sat there with them, 56and a servant girl saw him. Then after she had looked at him carefully, she said, "This man was with Jesus!"
57Peter said, "Woman, I don't even know that man!"
58A little later someone else saw Peter and said, "You are one of them!"
"No, I'm not!" Peter replied.
59About an hour later another man insisted, "This man must have been with Jesus. They both come from Galilee."
60Peter replied, "I don't know what you are talking about!" Right then, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don't know me." 62Then Peter went out and cried hard.
63The men who were guarding Jesus made fun of him and beat him. 64They put a blindfold on him and said, "Tell us who struck you!" 65They kept on insulting Jesus in many other ways.
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Reflection on Forgiveness
When a nine-year hold, I went before family and friends to receive Christ into my life, as my best Friend. I recall the many tears - both from others and me-, the hugs, and the kisses. I recollect the feeling of being clean, as though for the first time, like my spiritual arteries had been unclogged and opened up. My whole body felt light, in a way I had never known my young self could have been burdened with the burden of sin. I cannot explain what happened, only what the experience was like for me, and so vivid that it became the cornerstone event that has since shaped my life - even during the years I was trying to hide from that best Friend, trying to run from Him, and his Followers.
That following day I went to school. The class celebrated my new beginning with claps and smiles. The teacher led the celebration. You would have thought I had birthed a baby, or won the lottery.
Later, that day, I had a first experience of doing something I believed displeased my new, best Friend. Sitting in my desk among my classmates, I prayed silently to Jesus for forgiveness.
Of course, since then, this practice of silently or vocally confessing and asking forgiveness has occurred many times. Should I say thousands of times? And, more than not, as on that first time, such confession has come not from fear of punishment, or principally out of a guilt-complex, but a wish to please Christ, a knowing that I owe Him my best, for we love each other.
Now, think of how disappointed the one Jesus named Rock must have been, when Jesus looked at him, following Peter denying him three times.
"The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered that the Lord had said, 'Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don't know me.'"
Jesus had given the warning earlier. Peter had said: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to jail and even to die with you" (Luke 22.33, CEV). He did not believe the words that spoke of his forthcoming denial of Him three times. After all, Peter was the Rock among the close followers of Jesus.
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