...and the cock crows and crows and crows.

Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Matthew 26. 34

In the little community where we are living when we are in Florida, there is an errant rooster who patrols the grounds. He is an elegant fellow, beautifully appointed with a regal countenance who does not suffer fools gladly! In Mr. Rooster's mind, my Golden Retrievers are fools and when they are within Mr. Rooster's field of vision, he approaches with great bravado and shows no signs of intimidation. We are certain that he would happily hurt them if they got in his way. Quite a character. He also has a rather annoying habit of crowing all day long. At first I found it comforting, sort of a reminder that even in the city we have tinges of farm life which is something I have always wanted to experience.

However this week, the annoying crowing brings up a much more troubling thought. Everytime I hear his regal crow, I am reminded of Peter and his three denials. From the first audible crow before sunrise until the last one at the end of the day, I am reminded of how often I have denied Jesus in thought, word and deed. The General Confession from Morning Prayer comes to mind.

“Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous and sober life. To the Glory of thy holy Name. Amen.”

It is going to be a long week with my neighborhood rooster, a different but powerful way to walk the way of Christ during this last week of his life. This crow will remind me of being a miserable offender and of my prayer to live a godly, righteous and sober life. And most of all it will remind me of the ultimate act of Love that broke the power of sin and death. As Jesuit Daniel Berrigan used to tell his fellow activists, "If you are going to follow Jesus, you better look good on wood."

God let me live a life filled with gratitude for "thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world..for the means of grace and for the hope of glory."

Mr. Rooster in his habitat at Club Continental in Orange Park, Florida