“You aren’t one o f this man’s disciples too, are you?” (the servant girl) asked Peter. He replied ‘I am not.” … Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. John 18:17, 25-26

Today you are invited to put yourself in Peter’s place. Scared, worried, horrified – what would you have done? Peter had told Jesus he would follow Him to the end. How did he feel now, in that courtyard, as he denied Jesus three times. How would you feel? What would you have said? How long would you have stayed? What do you want to say to Jesus at this moment. How does He respond?

May God forgive you every time you deny Jesus, as He forgave Peter and the courage to be honest and open about your relationship with Him. And may He give you the grace to forgive yourself too.