This is your hour, and the power of darkness

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

- Luke 22:52-62

In Saturday's reading, we were told of Jesus' time with His disciples on the Mount of Olives. He told them repeatedly to pray that they not enter into temptation. And Jesus prayed Himself, repeatedly and fervently, in an agony so great that "His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." The disciples slept from sorrow, but He told them repeatedly to pray, lest they enter into temptation. Then the mob approached, and Judas drew near to kiss Him. He said, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" One of the disciples struck the servant of the high priest with a sword, but Jesus taught them to permit His arrest, and healed the ear of the servant. See "Father if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will but Yours, be done."

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." They have all come to arrest Him. We know, as the Gospel has told us, that they are afraid of the people, because Jesus is popular. So they don't seize Him openly, but in secret, in the darkness on the Mount of Olives. John's Gospel teaches that there were also Roman soldiers present -- so truly they are seizing Him with force as if He is a criminal. We know He has taught that what is written is fulfilled in Him, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." The power of darkness alludes to the spiritual battle raging behind all the scenes of the Gospel; it is the hour of those who actively work against the kingdom that is breaking through into the world, against Christ who is the "stronger man" than the prince of this world. And we also know, once again that it is the Father's will that Jesus fulfills in submitting, and teaching His disciples to "Permit even this" (see yesterday's reading).

Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." What a scene this is! Peter is sitting in the darkness where they are holding Jesus. And a servant girl spots him. His cowardice gets the better of him. I cannot say that I wouldn't feel powerfully afraid in his place as well! But we know why he has been told by Jesus to pray.

And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Three times, three opportunities. It's a striking example of where we may find ourselves once we may travel down a particular road -- especially one of falsehood. He is ensnared more deeply in his denial, and to come out of it is likely more difficult with each question. Each denial becomes more vehement than the previous one. And this is also a part of their "hour, and the power of darkness."

Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly. That the Lord looked at Peter is a detail appearing only in Luke's Gospel. My study bible says, "One can imagine the profound meaning of their mutual glance." How extraordinary! Teacher and disciple, a glance between them. They have shared so much, and Christ loves him so deeply. A moment ago, a little while before, Peter claimed that he would suffer prison and death with Jesus -- but Christ knew him far better than he knew himself. The power of prayer, we have to remember, is for such times when our own personal strength and will fails us. Against this "hour" and the "power of darkness" we need weapons that are stronger than our own self-will.

It's a wonderful story here that teaches us the weaknesses of Peter. Repeatedly in the Gospels, we encounter an apostle who is too emotional for his own good: fervent and vehement in his proclamations and declarations about himself, and swept by his own emotions of fear in other stories as well. But Peter is a great heroic example of the power of the Spirit -- and it is he whom Jesus has both warned that he must pray because Satan wants to "sift him like wheat" and also so that he may come back and strengthen his brethren after Jesus' death. Peter will become a great leader of the apostles and the Church, but we are given this picture in all its vividness of the man who cowers in the darkness, and whose Master gives him a glance after denial, three times. How many times have we, too, perhaps sat in this place where Peter is now? It is always possible. Let us once again, then, remember the power of prayer, the darkness, and the force and spiritual power we call upon when we pray. Peter is our mighty example, not only of strength from weakness, but also of the return to the Church, his brothers (and sisters), and the mighty role he will play through his own repentance and return! Peter gives us hope. And let us remember that glance that brings us to the truth about ourselves, and seek it always when we pray.