St. Peter in Penitence
El Greco
Wikimedia Commons

“I will not deny you,” was Peter’s and the other disciples’ reply to Jesus’ statement that “this night all of you will have your faith in me shaken.” (Matthew 26:30-35). Yet, a few hours after their vow that they would not deny Him, they fled and left Him.

Like the disciples, we may deny and flee Christ or His body the Church when our faith is shaken. But this need not be the end of our faith or our relationship with Christ Jesus.

We need only look to Jesus’ response to Peter, who denied Him three times, and the disciples, who abandoned Him. Christ’s first words on seeing them were: “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36). Christ responded with the love and mercy to Peter’s denials and His disciples’ abandonment of Him. This same inconceivable love and mercy is available when we, who have sinned against Him, seek to return to Him.