7 April, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations for Every Day

Peter Denies Jesus

1. St. Peter was by nature impetuous and generous. He loved Jesus sincerely. Even after the other Apostles had run away when Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane (Cf. Mt. 26:56), he followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the High Priest's house. “Peter was following at a distance.” (Luke 22:54) In his generous enthusiasm, however, he depended too much on himself. During the last supper Jesus had foretold to His Apostles His approaching passion and death and their desertion. Immediately, Peter had solemnly declared that, even if all the others would be scandalised on the night of the passion, he would never be scandalised. He would, he said, be ready to go with Jesus to prison and to death. (Cf. Mt. 24:33; Luke 22:33) But Jesus tried to put him on his guard against presumption. “I tell thee, Peter, a cock will not crow this day, until thou hast denied three times that thou knowest me.” (Cf. Luke 22:34) In spite of this prophecy, the impetuous Apostle went as far as the courtyard of the High Priest. While the divine Redeemer was brought in chains before the judgment seat of the High Priest, where He was calumniated, struck and condemned to death, Peter was asked if he was a follower of the Galilean. Three times He denied his Master with oaths and protests. Unfortunately, this is what happens to anyone who trusts presumptuously in his own strength. This is what happens when we forget that we can do nothing, as St. Paul points out, without the help and the grace of God. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” (2 Cor. 3:5) Anyone is courting disaster if he foolishly places all his confidence in himself and neglects to seek the help of God when he is in danger. He is certain to fall.

2. While Jesus was praying and suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter was asleep. He followed Jesus at a distance, admittedly, but he followed fearfully and slowly. Unfortunately tepidity is the first step towards falling into sin. A man who is lukewarm and does not pray will fall victim to the first assault. This is what happened to Peter. The same will happen to us if we do not preserve a bond of love and prayer with Jesus. At least after his first fall, Peter should have remembered Jesus' prophesy. He should not have continued to trust in his own strength and should have escaped from the occasion of sin. Instead of this, he remained in it. As a result, instead of falling only once, he denied his divine Master three times with oaths and protestations. Let us learn to flee from the occasions of sin. When we find ourselves in them, let us escape as quickly as possible. If our duty obliges us to face them, God will certainly give us the strength to overcome them as long as we humbly ask for it. On the other hand, if we are imprudent about placing ourselves in danger we shall certainly fall. “He who loves danger will perish in it.” (Ecclus. 3:25)

3. St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, was endowed with many gifts and graces. He was taught by Jesus for three years and had seen many wonderful miracles. Moreover, he loved His Master very much. If he could fall so wretchedly, we who are so weak and helpless should tremble at the approach of temptation. We should fly to Jesus without delay and tell Him that He may do anything to us if He desires, even take our lives, as long as He does not allow us to desert or to deny Him, nor to offend Him by any sin. The example of Peter's fall is a grave warning to us. It is a warning to us to be humble and persevering in prayer and to place all our confidence in God.