If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go

 

 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 one 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 are saying1"  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. 

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?'  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.  

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."

 

- Luke 22:54–69 

 

Yesterday, we read that, coming out from the Passover Supper (the Last Supper), Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to them, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."  And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"  When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this."  And He touched his ear and healed him.  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."  My study Bible notes that it is a girl who is the first to test Peter; it teaches us that she is an icon of the temptation of Adam by Eve (Genesis 3:6).  The Gospel shows us that our fallen state is overcome in Christ when it is women who are the first to hear, believe, and proclaim the Resurrection (Luke 24:1-10).  

But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."  And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are one 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 are saying1"  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.  Peter is so overcome with fear, my study Bible says, that neither Christ's prediction (verse 34) nor the crowing of the rooster calls him to repentance.  It's only the Lord's gaze that finally causes him to weep bitterly.  St. Ambrose of Milan is quoted as saying of this passage that, nevertheless, "through tears, what cannot be defended can be purged, for tears wash away the offense which is shameful to confess out loud."

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?'  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.  Our Lord as prisoner is humiliated, ridiculed, abused, in a brutish way.  But we must consider how He condescended to experience what we may experience in our lives.  

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."  My study Bible comments here that Jesus asked many questions of the Jewish leaders which they refused to answer because doing so would have meant confessing Him as the Christ (Luke 20:4-7; Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 3:4).  His final statement here is a declaration that He is equal with God. 

Let us compare the two responses of Peter and Jesus in today's reading.  St. Peter's expression is to deny that he is a follower of Christ.  In that sense, it's a negative expression, a denial of something.  Three times people identify him as a follower or disciple of Christ, and three times he denies that this is the truth.  "Woman, I do not know Him."  In a sense, this is a refusal to speak, to confess that he is a follower of Christ.  Then we can turn to Jesus who also refuses to speak.  In the first case, He is mocked and beaten by the soldiers.  They tie a blindfold on Him, strike Him across the face, and demand that He prophesy who hit Him.   He is treated to all manner of blasphemy, but He doesn't say a word (Isaiah 42:2).  Then when He is questioned by the religious leaders as to whether or not He is the Christ, He already knows that to answer them is futile.  He says, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go."  But then, He knows where He is going and what is going to happen, telling them only, "Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."  In a sense, with this last statement, He's answering their questions by declaring Himself, but not answering them directly as they desire.  Son of Man is a title for a messianic figure in the Book of Daniel, the right hand of the power of God is in the position of power with God.  In St. Peter's case, he is denying who he is as a member of Christ's followers, with his strong and vehement denials, as predicted by Christ.  In Jesus' case, He doesn't speak where it will do Him no good, and neither will it do any good to those to whom He might speak.  Indeed, revealing Himself to those who scoff or mock or beat Him would only condemn those people more for their refusal to hear.  It is Jesus who teaches us, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces" (Matthew 7:6).  Finally, He will not answer the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, who bring Him in to trial.  As He said at His arrest, "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" (see yesterday's reading, above).  But here they ask Him again, although they have no intention -- and perhaps no capability at this stage -- of believing His answer, of responding to Him, or of letting Him go.  This truth about them He will declare Himself, and finally, He will make a statement about where He knows He is going, and whom He knows He is and the role He will assume.  Jesus' denial to speak contrasts with Peter in that Jesus is absolutely true to Himself, to the One whom He is in the sight of God the Father.  Peter is denying himself by denying Christ; he isn't being true to the identity he's been called to assume by Christ.  Both do not answer in the ways their interrogators desire them to, but one denies the truth, and the other embodies the truth in all things and through all things.  What these poignant and terrible scenes teach us is all about how to comport ourselves as Christians, as His followers.  There will be proper times to speak and proper times not to speak -- but in all cases, our personal integrity is the truth of Christ that we can live, even through the worst of things we may experience.  We should not get caught up in formalities, but rather rely on our faith to teach us and guide us through all difficulties properly.  There is a deeply powerful moment written into this account in Luke, and that is also a moment of 'not speaking.'   We're told that the Lord turned and looked at Peter just as the rooster crowed.  How many volumes of truth does the Lord's gaze tell to Peter, and even to all of us who will one day also stand before that gaze ourselves?  He doesn't need to say a word, for He has already foretold what Peter would do, and Peter is at once brought back to himself, and to the truth of what he's doing -- even to his failure to hold to his promise that he was willing to go to prison and to die with him (Luke 22:33).  St. Peter weeps bitterly in repentance after Christ's look brings all things back to his remembrance.  Let us remember the power in silence, in a look, in a refusal to speak, even in an answer that's not really an answer someone wants to demand from us.  Let us remember the power of truth in all things, and the One who is the truth that guides us in our responses to the world, our identities and loyalties to Him first of all.

If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go

 

 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. 

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?"  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."

 

- Luke 22:54–69 

 

Yesterday we read that, coming out from the place where He and the disciples had the Passover supper, also known as the Last Supper, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."  And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"  When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this."  And He touched his ear and healed him.  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.  My study bible remarks upon the fact that it was a girl who was the first to test Peter.  It notes that this is an icon of the temptation of Adam by Eve (Genesis 3:6).  It says that our fallen state is overcome in Christ when it is women who are the first to hear, believe, and proclaim the Resurrection (24:1-10).  

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.   My study bible tells us that Peter is so overcome with fear that neither Christ's prediction (verse 34) nor the crowing of the rooster calls him to repentance, but only the Lord's gaze causes him to weep bitterly.  Nevertheless, St. Ambrose of Milan comments, "through tears, what cannot be defended can be purged, for tears wash away the offense which is shameful to confess out loud."

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?"  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.  When we witness the suffering of Christ, His abuse at the hands of the violent and unjust and cruel, we must think to ourselves that our Lord became human, so that He could heal all the scars of the rest of us who know what this is, both as victim and victimizer.  The outrage here is in some sense even greater when we know the holiness and true majesty of Christ, His total innocence, and moreover that so many know He is a holy Man.  This is a violation and abuse not only of a human being, but of grace itself.  By this suffering, Jesus takes it upon Himself to transfigure the suffering of the world and turn it on its head for all of us.

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God." My study bible comments that Jesus asked many questions of the Jewish leaders which they refused to answer, because doing so would have meant confessing Jesus was the Christ (Luke 20:4-7; Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 3:4).   With Jesus' final statement, His claim that He will sit on the right hand of the power of God, He declares Himself to be equal with God.  

In the verses that follow, which are not a part of today's lectionary reading, we see that Jesus' truth has condemned Him to the punishment the leaders will create for Him.  They ask, "Are You then the Son of God?"  And Jesus replies, "You rightly say that I am."  They then say to one another, "What further testimony do we need?  For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."  (See Luke 22:70-71.)  Although Jesus follows where the Father leads Him, and accepts to endure suffering and human death, He does not stop speaking the important truths which He is given to reveal to the world, as He is the light of the world (John 8:12).  We may confuse Jesus' seeming docility with passive acceptance, but as far as I can tell, that would be wrong.  Jesus accepts to endure the injustice and unrighteous behavior handed to Him, but it is with a particular purpose in mind, and a spiritual value which undercuts the evil in the world and that which is shown to Him.  In His truthful reply to His persecutors, even after beatings and cruelty, Jesus shows the true character of His mission.  Whatever injustice He endures, it is in service to the truth that will proclaim not simply the righteousness of God, but also the salvation of the world, and the judgment that is to come.  But what we see in Jesus is not the worldly way of correcting injustice, which so often uses violence which begets more violence and thereby more injustice and power abuses.  Jesus' way is God's way shown to us; it is the true way He overcomes the world and continues to do so (John 16:32-33).  This is something we need to turn to and to understand.  The power that is in Christ is not simply a worldly power, nor is it something that "fixes" what's wrong with the world through coercion or similar types of efforts of seizing power or changing regimes.  Christ's power, first of all, is in the truth that He tells, that He is, and that He brings into the world.  His power rests upon the spiritual reality of God that is behind, within, and radiating through all things.  This is the correction and salvation and healing that He brings to the world, and with which He meets the violent and destructive and powerful who are motivated by greed and other forms of selfishness.  And in this mission, we too may share.  How can we do that?  Prayer is first of all the great weapon of those who love God.  Prayer strengthens us and helps to purify our own motivations and thinking.  It helps us to become aware of ourselves and where we need to clean up our own act, so to speak.  Prayer connects us with God, and helps us to find that deeper truth in which we seek to rest.  It also connects us to grace which blesses us with the good things we read about in St. Paul's letter to the Galatians:  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).  These are all things which strengthen and help us.  They help us to keep our cool, so to speak, in all circumstances.  They help us to pull back and think, rather than simply to react to bad circumstances by making them somehow worse.  Christ's work in this world, and His mission to us, is to respond to the bad things in life through the righteousness of God, and through the light He brings into the world.  This is spiritual truth.  We need to understand that the evil we see and experience in the world has a spiritual counterpart behind it, and it is the roots of that injustice and unrighteousness we see in the world that Jesus is going for, and inviting us in to help Him in that struggle.  We might not be able to discern this on a grand scale, but if we experience this in our own lives, we can learn its effects through time.  The power of God's healing might be at work in us first, to overcome some abuse by the world.  But if we look closely, we might observe the fate of those who repeatedly turn against this truth, and their emptiness and hunger for something more, because of that deeper reality that underlies all things in this world.  It is in full cooperation with that deeper reality that Jesus acts, which is why it seemingly doesn't make sense from a purely worldly or material consideration.  Jesus plainly tells the disciples, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).  And yet, "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21).  And let us note, these words in Greek have a double meaning of "within you" and can also mean "among you" -- both are valid.  That living Kingdom that dwells both within us and among us is one in which we participate through the life of Christ.  The Eucharist and our worship services and the life of prayer in which we engage are all built as a living structure in which we participate and partake, and the life of grace can dwell in us and through us.  We are meant to carry God's light into the world by following His lead through all things.  What we see in the world, and the evils and unrighteous behavior we might experience ourselves can be our own opportunities for choice:  we may turn to God and follow as did Jesus, not relinquishing our truth -- or we may turn to the ways of the world.  We are meant to be in this world but not "of" it.  That means that our prayer may lead us to participate fully in the society, but in particular ways that keep our faith alive and well and growing within us, producing the spiritual fruits of grace, and making a contribution to the world in the process and to the future we build for ourselves and those whom we love.  Jesus transfigures the world through this process, and this is the whole purpose of the Incarnation.  We, also, may help and grow in that transfiguration by seeking to do the same in response to evil and unrighteousness in the world.  This is how we each take up our cross and play our part.  This Christmas, we may simply look around at all the children who need faith so badly, and the love that goes with it, and the peace and goodness, and see what a worthy project that is.  Let us follow Him and look to that light and His truth to share with the world.  Jesus says to those who seek only His conviction:  "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."  Even where we have no hope of changing someone's mind, we are still called to that truth and His way and that life He offers to the world.

If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go

 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.

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?"  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God." 

- Luke 22:54-69 

Yesterday we read that, coming out of the place where they had the Last Supper,  Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and his disciples also followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.   When He rose up from prayer, and had come to the disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."  And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"  When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this."  And He touched his ear and healed him.  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."   Peter's first test in the temptation to deny Christ comes from a girl.  A traditional way to see this is as an icon of the temptation of Adam by Eve (Genesis 3:6).  In the story of the Cross and the Resurrection, this image is rectified -- our fallen state is overcome in Christ -- when women are the first to hear, believe, and proclaim the Resurrection (24:1-10).

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.  My study bible tells us that Peter is so overcome with fear that neither Christ's prediction (v. 34) nor the crowing of the rooster calls him to repentance, but only the Lord's gaze causes him to weep bitterly.  However, as stated by St. Ambrose of Milan, "through tears, what cannot be defended can be purged, for tears wash away the offense which is shameful to confess out loud."

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?"  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.  The contempt expressed here is obvious; it's a strange, abusive, brutish form of the demand for Christ to prove who He is, which Jesus has encountered many times from the leadership (see 11:29).   These men reflect the base attitude and abuse of power of those who wish to crucify Him, who refuse faith.

 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go."  My study bible points out here that Jesus has asked many questions of the Jewish leaders which they refused to answer because doing so would have meant confessing Him as the Christ (see 20:4-7; Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 3:4).

"Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."  Jesus makes the claim, fully and boldly, effectively declaring Him to be equal with God.

What is truth?  How is it used, and what does it mean?  Who respects and loves truth, and why?  All of these questions are important to ask ourselves as we view not only Peter's failure to uphold the truth as he knows it, but also the work of those who brutally mock Christ, and the leadership -- whose job it is to guard, preserve, and disseminate the truth of Jewish spiritual history for the people.  Yesterday we read that as He was seized and arrested, Jesus said, "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."  The power of darkness is linked to lies and lying, deliberate ignorance, the lack of light in all its ramifications and meanings.  In today's reading, we may once again consider the central importance of love of truth to faith and to our understanding of who Christ is.  We can watch and look at these events and how the truth is treated in each one.  St. Peter is filled with fear and denies he knows Christ.  We know what the truth is.  Does it matter if these people who approach St. Peter know that he is one of the followers of Christ?  Perhaps not.  But it matters to St. Peter whom he confesses, and most deeply whether or not he is loyal to Christ.  And this is his great failing and betrayal, the source of his bitter tears at the glance of Jesus toward him.  The brutish people who've seized Jesus and contemptuously mock Him tell us of true contempt for truth, a total lack of respect for spiritual reality, a brute blindness in their abuse of their prisoner.  The last thing that matters there is truth, even a basic respect for spiritual understanding of Christ as preacher of the God of Israel.   These men reflect the heart of the real corruption of the leadership, whose top priority is to preserve their places of power and authority, which Jesus threatens simply because His truth is not something they uphold.  And here we come to the real crux of the matter:  what is Christ's truth?  He knows these men, and understands them thoroughly, and knows full well that truth is the last thing that really matters here, above self-interest.  He says, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go."  But nevertheless, He states the truth of what is to happen:  "Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."  It is up to His hearers what they do with that truth, how they will respond to it.  He has, in a sense, forewarned them about who He is, what He is, what power will be at work even after they have killed Him.  What they do with that is up to them.  And this is God's place in our midst.  We are offered this truth of God's love, God's power, God's reality.  As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (20:9-19), God sends His representatives, even His Son, over and over again, to tell the truth about the reality of our spiritual state and the love with which we are created and upheld in life, and how God calls us to be "like God."  What our religious and spiritual leadership does with that truth is their responsibility and choice.  What we do with that truth within ourselves is also our choice.  Witness testimony is an important thing to consider when we read the story of Christ.  The truth He tells is all about salvation.  It is not about proofs.  It is not even about convincing anyone.  Everything He does is an attempt to save, because the very nature of His truth is salvific.  In this sense, truth and salvation are linked, and a love of truth is necessary for faith of the kind He asks of us, and calls us to witness ourselves.  Let us consider St. Peter, and know that loyalty to this truth is what He asks, and commands, and that whenever we fail we must always return to it, and to Him.