Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Peter denies his Lord for the third time. An hour has passed. Jesus is still being questioned. And Peter? He is still around, he wants to see what happens. Who knows…? But he is still afraid of being recognised.
A servant of the high priest a relative of the one whose ear had been cut off in the Garden of Olives when Jesus was arrested, sees Peter and says: “didn’t I see you with him in the garden ?” (Jn 18, 26). … Peter denies it. Another man insists, saying, 'This fellow was certainly with him. Why, he is a Galilean” (Luca 22, 59). Peter is surrounded, he says: “'My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.'” (Luke 22, 60). Other people insist, they are not convinced, they say: “Your are one of them; your accent gives you away” (Matthew 26, 73), “You are one of them, you are a Galilean” (Mark 14, 71).
Peter starts cursing and swearing, 'I do not know the man you speak of” (Mk 14, 71). And at once the cock crowed for the second time (cf Mk 14, 71).
The Lord looks at Peter and Peter remembers what he had predicted: “'Before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.” (Luke 22, 60). He realises what he has done. Deeply ashamed he bursts into tears and leaves. He failed to keep watch in the Garden of Olives, to pray not to fall into temptation: “I would die for you”… he had said, so he cried bitterly. He had denied his Lord three times.
The attached info in French shows Peter’s weakness and the Lord’s loving gaze which brings him to repent… as Jesus had said: “'Simon, Simon! Look, Satan has got his wish to sift you all like wheat;but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and once you have recovered, you in your turn must strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22, 32) (J.M.) (Agenzia Fides 3/4/2007, righe 28, parole 436)
