Peter and me...

Matthew 26. 69-75

Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.

Whenever I hear this story, I remember times in my life when I too denied, times when I allowed my thoughts to go awry and distort what I knew to be the truth about God's love for me and my love for God. It hasn't happened often, and I hope it will never happen again, but it was so painful that I never forget it, and this passage hurts.

When this song popped up on my computer this morning, I was reminded of the omnipotent forgiveness of God, just as I am reminded of it in the passage for today. Peter made so many mistakes, and he was so human. It takes courage to say you actually do follow Jesus, and we don't always have that courage. But as our beloved Dean Kate said someone said this morning, "Your sin is a drop in the ocean of God's mercy." Surely the presence of the Lord in this place reminds me of the ever present Love of God regardless of my mistakes and foibles. I can feel the brush of angel's wings, I see glory on each face even through my tears of regret and failure, and I know without a doubt that I have been with the Lord.