The story cited in today’s mediation scripture is one of the most human in all of the gospels. Peter failed. He failed his Lord and he failed himself. Had he been attending a pro-Jesus rally no doubt he would have proudly brandished his credentials and made sure every knew that he was an “insider” and a disciple. But in the face of so much adversity, he cowered. We can resist the temptation to ridicule Peter because we all can remember a time in our lives when we had the opportunity to step up and identify ourselves with that which we knew in our hearts was the right thing to do…and didn’t. Adam Hamilton reminds us that Peter himself cited this story as part of his personal witness of how the commissioning of Jesus and the Holy Spirit transformed him from a meek yet willing follower to a bold leader of the Church.
Today, ask yourself where you are encountering tension and conflict. Take time to prayerfully reflect on these matters. Some battles are not worth fighting. Others are easily resolved with an apology or an admission of confusion. And some battles are worth fighting. Perhaps you have an opportunity to align yourself with an unpopular but just cause. Search your heart. Do you feel called to wage this fight? If so, stay “in the courtyard” and affirm your stand.
