Fr. T J. Puliyan, MSFS
During the scriptural readings of the Holy Week and Easter, we come across three prominent Biblical personalities: Jesus, Peter, and Judas. All three are on the same team and work together until the stipulated time. Peter and Judas had the same title as the apostles of Jesus. Judas betrayed Jesus, his Master, and Peter denied his Master. These acts are heinous, especially when done to their Master who loved and cared for them. However, the difference we see in both is that they took different paths in dealing with the situation after committing the offense. This made them totally different personalities later in the Holy Bible.
Judas, after betraying Jesus, felt extremely sorry for his actions. His sense of shame and guilt made him frustrated and depressed, meaningless and hopeless. He was angry at himself and others. He finally threw away those 30 silver coins and hanged himself (Mt 27:3-10). The sad side is that he did not dare to own up to his misdeed and apologize to Jesus to get back to the team to be a productive team member in the future. However, he did not have the trust in himself and the wisdom to return to his Master, knowing that he was a caring and forgiving Master. His story had a sad and dark ending.
In the case of Peter, it was just the opposite. He denied him three times and took courage and returned to his Master, apologizing to him for his offense. Peter was also extremely sorry for his misdeed, so he wept. Jesus, as generous as he is, welcomed him back into his team and later made him the cornerstone of his Church. Peter was not simply admitted back to the team, but he was admonished and chastised in Jesus’ own way. Peter denied Jesus three times after the arrest, while he was out in the courtyard of the high priest at a charcoal of fire before the cock crowed two times (Jn18:15-25).
However, we see Jesus appear a third time after his resurrection to his disciples by the sea of Galilee; he ate a charcoal fire, cooked breakfast with them, and then asked Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter said to Jesus, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you” (Jn 21:9-19). It is interesting to see that Jesus repeated the same question to Peter three times until he was grieved because Jesus asked him three times. There was a charcoal of fire where they cooked their breakfast. There was also a charcoal of fire where Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter was welcomed with his profession of faith in Jesus and sustained that faith until the last moment as a disciple of Christ.
In real life, dealing with specific situations matters, especially after falling into sins, offenses, tragedies, and sufferings. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection from our own little tombs, along with the Lord, who rose from the dead years ago. Wishing you all a Happy Easter!
May this Easter be a time of faith, hope, meaning, purpose, happiness, and wellness of body and soul.
