The rooster crowed

Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak!" A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept.

- Mark 14:66-72

While Jesus is inside at the Sanhedrin (see yesterday's reading and commentary), Peter is outside in the courtyard, where today's scene takes place. We recall Jesus' repetition of prediction of Scripture from Zechariah: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' All of his flock are now scattered. Out of them all, only John and Peter have the courage to follow Jesus.

Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed." We recall Peter's words just after Jesus repeated the scripture from Zechariah noted in the paragraph above. "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." We remember also, that it was servants of the high priests who came to arrest Jesus. Here, another servant accuses Peter.

And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." Peter is pressed again about being a disciple of Jesus. We recall Jesus' response to Peter's declaration of loyalty: "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And Peter's reply, as reported in the gospel: But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with you, I will not deny you!"

Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak!" A second time the rooster crowed. My study bible notes: "Peter denies the Lord, but at least he is there to do so. His intentions are commendable, but his strength fails." Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept. In another note, my study bible says, "All of us fail; Peter bursts into tears of repentance over his denial." It's important to understand that Peter's repentance here is enough for his forgiveness. We remember the words of the angel at the empty tomb: "But go, tell His disciples -- and Peter -- that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." This was a specific word for Peter, indicating forgiveness and inclusion.

What do we do, when our strength fails us, despite our best resolutions? In Peter, we have this brilliant illustration of our emotional life. It's like riding a roller coaster. At the Last Supper, Peter's words insisting that he would follow Jesus even to death before he would deny him are reported to us as being "vehement." We can be certain that Peter was then certain of his words. But emotional life is tricky and difficult. What we undertake in zeal may simply be just not good enough to count on. We can't rely on our emotional strength alone. The message, as we are reminded repeatedly in the gospels, is that our strength of ourselves alone just isn't enough. We need something else, we need help. This is the perspective of the gospels, and it informs our faith.

We recall also the night in Gethsemane, when Jesus' closest apostles failed to "stay awake, watch and pray" with him. Jesus said to Peter: "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." On that occasion (and on others in the gospels), Peter's strength failed him as well. We know him, prior to Pentecost, as a man given to strong declarations, exuberant feelings, and expressions of such both noble and cowering. It is no accident that Christ named him, "Rock." And perhaps no accident that Jesus calls him "Simon" in Gethsemane. We recall the occasion when he received his name, when Peter confessed his faith -- and we note that in the same reading (see the link), Jesus would tell Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" for Peter's emotional response to news of what is to come.

Peter, of course, will go on to be that "Rock" of the apostles. The Spirit will transform this exuberant man - using all of his capacities and faith - into the one who will become spokesman for the apostles. And more than that, his promise that he would follow Jesus even to death will also become true. Peter will be crucified at Rome, requesting it be done upside-down, as a sign of reverence to his Lord. So, the lesson we take from today's reading is about strength -- and the difference faith and the Spirit make to our strength. We can't simply live on our emotional life alone to get us through life in wisdom and strength. No matter how well-intentioned, it will not take us there. Looking back through the readings in Mark's gospel, we recall also Jesus' words on other occasions to other people: A man wishing for healing for his child tells Jesus, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" On another occasion, Jesus will teach that, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man." Again, it is the strength that comes from faith, and the wisdom of repentance, that better guides us through life and our choices. But we come back to Peter. Jesus is inside, being falsely condemned on charges of blasphemy, punishable by death. (See yesterday's reading.) Peter, despite his best intentions, has failed to live up to his word, and denied his master three times, as was predicted. He weeps the tears of repentance, acknowledging his failure. I encourage all of my readers to rely on prayer for strength and guidance through life's difficulties. My emotions fail me often when I am overwhelmed, but turning to prayer, in a centered place, always helps for a steady hand of guidance and insight, no matter what is going on around me. There are none of us who are perfect, and this "Rock" of the apostles was also there well before us. Yet he would go on to be their spokesman and "first among equals." Let us follow his example when we fail. We return to our Source and Center, and ask to be healed, and go forward. Christ's forgiveness was explicit in the words of the angel to the women at the tomb. All we have to do is reconsider and recognize where we have failed. The strength is in Him, and it is enough for each of us to go on, and go forward. Pray for your strength.