Week 7 - I look at my sins and change my ways

Theme of the week

In each one of us there is some evil hidden within.

We hurt love.

We wound God and each other.

I place myself before God when I look at this evil. I become aware of how God is looking at me: with friendliness, mercy and with love.

What I desire

That I dare to open up

so that I can see where I have failed to love.

That I may see

when I turn my back on God and my neighbour.

That I don’t end up becoming locked up in myself.



Lied: Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy) The London Fox Taizé Choir

Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison

Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison

Kyrie eleison.

Spotify link:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2rJjxNi0Y666MzaCqcGtcf?si=82a8a0a6a8dc498d

YouTube link:

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=dy63_J2YMX4&list=OLAK5uy_kXly930fYCKGlcOGdzLZBo6bPcAV5ZtSE

Luke 22, 54-62

Jesus is seized and Peter denies Him

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance; 55 and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 

I use all my powers of imagination to see and hear what is happening here. Peter loves Jesus very much and that is precisely the reason why he follows Jesus when he was captured. But at a distance because he is afraid. And because he is afraid, he denies that he knows Jesus. And he does this even though he loves Jesus. Apparently his fear is greater.

*

58 And a little later some one else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 

Because of his fear Peter was unable to support Jesus. I look at my own life and moments when I have been unable to stay with someone: to be there for someone. Moments when I hurt someone. Moments when I was responsible, or jointly responsible, for breaking up a relationship.

*

61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Jesus looked at Peter and Peter burst into tears. I try to see the gaze Jesus gave Peter. A gaze which enabled Peter to commit himself and dedicate the rest of his life, eventually without fear, to following Jesus. How did Jesus look at Peter?

*

I imagine that Jesus turns round and looks at me. He knows me, completely. 

*

Lied: Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy) The London Fox Taizé Choir