The Repentance of Peter
“And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as He had said: ‘Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.’ And Peter going out wept bitterly” (Luke 22, 61-62).
First Prelude: Behold Peter, bitterly bewailing his sins.
Second Prelude: O my Jesus, let me fully realize the infinite goodness of Thy Sacred Heart to sinners, that it may imbue me with sentiments of a lively contrition and perfect love.
First Point
The Saviour’s Look of Grace
While Peter was yet speaking, constantly aggravating his guilt, Jesus was being led across the court. With inexpressible sorrow and compassion He cast a gracious glance upon the fallen disciple, who at once felt himself moved to the depths of his soul. The Saviour’s glance was a look of reproach, but, at the same time, the expression of the boundless love that filled His Sacred Heart for the erring disciple. The gracious look of our dear Lord dispelled the darkness that had enveloped Peter’s soul, showed him clearly the greatness of his sin, and filled his heart with unspeakable sorrow. It penetrated to the very depths of Peter’s heart and effected his conversion.
Oh, the abysmal love of our dear Lord! Suffering the most excruciating pains, tormented by His enemies, falsely accused, He forgets Himself, His own bitter sufferings and thinks of His fallen disciple. Peter’s deplorable fall is of greater concern to the Saviour’s loving Heart than the abuses heaped upon Himself.
Let us pray our Divine Saviour to cast upon us, too, a look of compassion, should we have the misfortune to commit a fault. If He would draw us away from the path of tepidity and sloth, let us offer no resistance but cheerfully follow in His footsteps, on the narrow way of the cross. Oh, that Jesus were ever before our eyes! He looks upon us, too, with a merciful eye and with the tenderest solicitude notes our progress in the practice of virtue. Do I strive earnestly at the daily meditation and the particular examen to excite contrition that springs from perfect love?
Second Point
Qualities of Peter’s Conversion and Repentance
Peter’s conversion was immediate. Hardly had our Blessed Saviour cast on him a look of love and compassion when Peter burst into tears. Peter corresponded with the helping grace offered him, opened his heart to it and was, therefore, converted.
Am I prompt to follow the inspirations imparted to me during the hour of meditation, the time of examination of conscience, at my Eucharistic Visits, in the counsels and directions of my superiors? Dear Lord, teach me the importance of co-operating promptly with Thy saving grace.
The conversion of the Prince of the Apostles was, furthermore, sincere. Proof for this is furnished by the bitter tears of compunction that he shed at the mere remembrance of his weakness and cowardice. A stronger proof, however, is the fact that he at once quit the proximate occasion of sin, as we read in the gospel narrative. Peter, weighed down with unspeakable grief, went out into the darkness of the night and wept bitterly.
To shun the danger of sin is the first step to true repentance. This holds as well of willful occasions of venial sin as of the occasions of mortal sin. Am I deserving of reproach in this regard? Do I, perhaps, indulge in conversations which I know, from experience, to be occasions of venial sin, which hinder holy recollection, distract me in prayer, and fill my mind with worldly thoughts and desires?
Lastly, the conversion of Peter was constant and persevering. His repentance was not merely passing; sorrow for his base denial oppressed him all his life, so that he wept bitterly at the mere thought of it. His whole future life was spent in promoting the glory of his Master, and, great as was his fall, his repentance was still greater. By his life-long satisfaction, Peter has truly become the model of penitents.
Our repentance and conversion, too, must be constant and persevering. Let us not relax, but incessantly repent of our sins. Let us, in the spirit of penance, accept the daily little inconveniences and discomforts. The patient bearing of such minor sufferings is a penance more pleasing to God than many lukewarm Christians are willing to believe. How am I disposed in this regard?
Affections: Lord Jesus, oh, that my contrition and penance resembled that of the Prince of the Apostles! Alas, I fall so frequently and am so slow to rise after a fall. Peter sincerely and bitterly bewailed his sins, but ah, how insufficient is my compunction! O my dear Saviour, give me true, sincere contrition and compassion for Thee, that by redoubled fervor and love of Thee, I may repair the many infidelities of my past life. Grant that in the humble remembrance of my utter weakness and instability, I may be gentle and considerate to others, bear with their weaknesses and defects, and thus, by mildness and indulgence towards my neighbor, render myself worthy of the love of Thy Divine Heart.
Resolution: For the love of Jesus, I will vanquish self in those things especially which are most repugnant to nature.
Spiritual Bouquet: “A contrite and humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”
Prayer: O Jesus living in Mary . . .
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