Easter Readings Day 14: Denying the Lord
Luke 22:54–61
They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This
man also was with him.”
He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.”
After a little while someone else saw him, and said, “You also are one of them!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed,
saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” He went out, and wept bitterly.
Secrets of Heaven 840
As long as our trials continue, we think the Lord is absent, since evil demons disturb us, sometimes to the point where despair almost prevents us from believing God exists at all. But the Lord is closer than we can possibly believe. When the trouble ends, we find comfort, and then we first believe the Lord is present.
Reflection
When is a time when you
felt that the Lord seemed absent? When did He seem very close?
