Opening Prayer
Almighty God, you know the frailty within us. You know the
weakness of our flesh. You know that people are like grass, scorched by the
sun, carried away by the wind. But we, with grand delusions and pretensions to
deity, forget our weakness. Remind us who we are, we pray. Forgive our
blasphemous self-sufficiency. But, mostly, in the light of our weakness may we
comprehend your strength. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Mark 14:66-72
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls
of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked
closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking
about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those
standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely
you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know
this man you’re talking about.”
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before
the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and
wept. TNIV
Peter, who could insist so loudly—Peter, who could be so
forthright—Peter now undergoes the greatest test, and fails. “All else may fall
away, but I never will.” And, indeed, he went farther then the other men (for
the women went as far as the cross!)—but now even Peter falls away.
There is no surety in human beings; only in God can we place
unshakeable confidence. BR
Myself unholy, from myself unholy
To the sweet living of my friends I look—
Eye-greeting doves bright-counter to the rook,
Fresh brooks to salt sand-teasing waters shoaly:—
And they are purer, but alas! not solely
The unquestion’d readings of a blotless book.
And so my trust, confused, struck, and shook
Yields to the sultry siege of melancholy.
He has a sin of mine, he its near brother;
Knowing them well I can but see the fall.
This fault in one I found, that in another:
And so, though each have one while I have all,
No better serves me now, save best; no other
Save Christ: to Christ I look, on Christ I call.
—Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)
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