The Cock Crowed - February 28

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15; Prov. 27:1-6,10-12; Phil. 2:1-13; John 18:15-18,25-27

Simon Peter is best just known as Peter and is arguably the most famous disciple.  It is Peter who receives the “keys to the kingdom” and becomes the foundation of Christianity.  Peter’s name in Greek means, ‘rock’ and it is on ‘rock’ that the church is built, a fun play on Peter’s name.  Often lauded as the first Bishop in Christianity, we trace our roots to Peter who Jesus entrusted with the responsibility of church and leadership. 

For this reason, my ears always perk up when I hear Peter’s name, Peter who is the subject in today’s lectionary reading.  Without knowing the full story, why might expect Peter to be the most faithful leader of all twelve, one who abandons the way of the world for the way of Jesus Christ, with unabashed faithfulness and remarkable courage. That is not the story in today’s reading.

In today’s passage from John’s Gospel, Peter is with another disciple in Jerusalem being questioned by the high priest.   It is part of the passion narrative that we hear on Good Friday just before the crucifixion. The high priest is questioning Jesus and it would be helpful to have some of the details verified from Jesus’s friends.  Peter becomes the source of questioning, and he denies any knowledge of his relationship with Jesus, not once but three times. 

The very person who the life of the church is entrusted to Jesus denies him multiple times.  It’s one of the biggest blunders in leadership we have ever witnessed, and I wonder if it was necessary for Peter’s own growth, humility, and compassion.

 A lot of things are weighing heavy on our lives.  Even as it feels for most of us the challenging season of Covid might be winding down, we are faced with a catastrophic war on the Eastern brink of Europe that could change the world forever.  In our own country, the political fighting that we experience at every election seems to embody leaders who are so confident that their answer is the right answer.  And the end result is always polarization.  Sometimes I wonder how much conflict really stems from the lack of humility and absolute certainty.  Maybe all conflict is really about ego.  

Peter realized his mistake when the cock crowed.  What will it take for us to do the same?

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Who are the people you try to emulate in your life?  What mistakes have they made and how have they handled those mistakes?

Daily challenge:   Take a moment to reflect on your own leadership style.  What can we learn from Peter in this story?