It was said of Joseph Stalin that if you made one mistake it was like mishandling a detonator, for that was likely to be the last mistake you ever made. We too write at times people off due to a bad experience. But which one of us would like to be judged for a single moment of our lives?
Think back to Holy Thursday evening, the setting in the courtyard. Peter is hunched around a fire along with others watching the spectacle unfold before them of Jesus being tried by the high priests. Others accused Peter of being one of Jesus’ disciples and three times he flatly denied the charge. When the cock crowed, Jesus turned and looked at Peter, who then wept bitterly for what he had just done.
Who would blame Jesus for writing Peter off as being weak, cowardly and unreliable? He had just set a terrible example for the other apostles. Yet, as we well know, Jesus did not write him off. He didn’t even demote him. Judas’ betrayal was a planned event, carried out in a cold calculating manner. Peter’s denial, however, was not planned; it was a result of weakness not malice. As one who could read hearts, Jesus knew that.
Now we find the two of them by another fire, this time at dawn on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. After a long night of fishing in vain, and ready to call it quits, Peter and his companions heeded Jesus’ instructions and threw their heavy net once more back into the sea and this time they were overwhelmed with a catch of 153 large fish. Upon recognizing Jesus, Peter climbed on shore for a conversation that changed his life.
After breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter and asked, “Simon, do you love me more than the others love me?” What a strange question to ask. Hadn’t he proved beyond a shadow of any doubt that he didn’t love him? After all, three times he had denied knowing the Lord. Yet Jesus asked him. “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And Peter said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He sincerely meant that. He really did love Jesus.
Knowing that strength and weakness can co-exist in the same person, Jesus asked Peter to declare his love publicly since his denial had been in public. “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Again, Peter responded, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And once again, Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Distressed that he had been asked three times, Peter replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Around this campfire, Jesus did more than feed Peter; he commissioned him. “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.” You could say that was Peter’s penance. Love is the best way to atone for sin. As Peter himself later wrote in his letter, “Love covers a multitude of sins.”
I doubt Peter never forgot the fact that he had denied Jesus yet I doubt it haunted him the way some people are haunted by their sins. Peter learned a great lesson from his fall. He learned that he wasn’t as brave as he thought he was.
Peter also learned a wonderful truth about Jesus. He learned that in spite of his denials, Jesus still loved him and kept no record of Peter’s sins. That love brought Peter back to life. To be loved in one’s goodness is no big deal but to be loved in one’s weakness and sinfulness is an amazing experience. That is what grace is all about.
Peter had the guts to get up again after his fall. As we heard in the first reading, he went on to become a dynamic leader. A leader has to be aware of his weakness. The experience on the beach that morning rid him of pride and enabled him to understand the weakness of others. As he learned, courage can fail us when we least expect. In the end, all of us can be inconsistent in our beliefs. Thus, we must learn to forgive ourselves for our momentary weaknesses and failures.
We are all like Peter. We are not the rocklike character that we would like to be. Instead we are weak at times. We need someone who can understand our weaknesses, and who doesn’t write us off when we fall short. Likewise, someone out there may need you to do the same when they are weak or struggling. We should be ready to extend the same understanding love towards others.
On Facebook, I recently shared this quote from Fr. Ron Rolheiser, who offers this pearl of wisdom, “The human heart is exquisitely fragile. Our judgments need to be gentle, our understanding deep, and our forgiveness wide.”
Jesus wasn’t speaking only to Peter. He is talking to us as well. Do you hear him with your heart? He is telling us, “If you love me, then feed my sheep! Tend my flock!”
We carry out his command as members of his Church. As individuals, as a parish, as part of the Church of Western Washington, we continue the work of Christ, using our time, talent and treasure to share the good news. The Church in 172 vibrant faith communities tends his flock to build a future full of hope. Last year, we pledged $64,850. You made it possible in the past and I trust you will do so again through the ACA for this is one way we can say to the Lord, “Yes, Lord, I love you. You know that I love you.”