May 2, Fifth Sunday of Easter

I will praise your name forever, my king and my God. -- Psalm 145: (see 1)

Mass Readings: Acts 14:21-27/Revelation 21:1-5/John 13:31-33,34-35

St. Peter is one of my favorite saints. Perhaps it’s because I see his weaknesses mirrored in me. In today’s Gospel, for example, Peter tells Jesus that he will lay down his life for Him. To that, Jesus correctly predicts that not only will Peter not lay down his life for Him, “the cock will not crow before you deny me three times” (Jn 13:37-38).

Daily, like Peter, I profess my belief in Jesus and my determination to follow Him. And nearly every day, I deny Him, as Peter did, in favor of something that holds more promise or, worse yet, something I know is meaningless and wrong but which I choose anyway. Fortunately, Jesus welcomes back both Peter and me. So why would I ever choose to leave?

Prayer: St. Peter, may I stay the course for which you eventually gave your life.