Third Sunday of Easter
Peter spoke before the Sanhedrin. The high priest then had him flogged and threatened him with imprisonment if he continued to speak in the name of Jesus. But what else could he do? Jesus had changed his life.
Simon’s brother, Andrew, introduced him to Jesus. Before Simon could say a word, Jesus renamed him Peter (in Aramaic, Cephas) which means “Rock” (John 1: 42). The bestowing of a name indicated the influence Jesus would have on him.
When Jesus predicted his passion, Peter promised to follow — “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13: 37). However, while Jesus was being interrogated by the Sanhedrin and the high priest, Peter was outside warming himself by a charcoal fire and being interrogated by a maid, a slave, and someone else in the crowd. Fear of arrest and imprisonment led him to deny Jesus each time (John 18: 17, 25, 27).
After Jesus was raised from the dead, he prepared breakfast over a charcoal fire and asked Peter three times if he loved him. Peter now felt the same pain Jesus had felt when the cock crowed. But his was the pain of contrition mixed with the cleansing fire of forgiveness. Peter now understood the price he would pay for laying down his life for Jesus (John 21: 18). And then Jesus said, “Follow me.”
What else could he do?
Reflection by Br. Jacob Kubajak, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections