Have you ever walked away from the faith or a relationship or felt lost? How was it when you finally came to your senses? How was it returning to situations that might not have understood what you were going through?
Peter denied Jesus three times and yet Jesus not only accepted him back, he didn’t scold him, he didn’t say look at what you did, he accepted Peter for who he was.
“When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32
Reflection
There have been plenty of times when I did something, someone did something, or I had no idea what was happening. Those times were not comfortable, and they were often confusing. They also had consequences.
As a young teenager, I needed to speak with adults. I probably wanted to communicate with my parents, but that wasn’t their strength. So it didn’t matter who I spoke with so long as I could have those conversations with an adult.
Little did I know that my mother would be jealous of those conversations. My mother wasn’t speaking with me, and my friend's mother did. I think for my friend's mom, I was a kid who wanted to communicate with her, her kids may not have been like that, and it worked for the two of us. I learned from her, got her advice, and was able to help her at times as well. I am forever grateful for that time; she was like a second mother.
The consequence of my actions impacted how my future relationship with my mother would go. One could say it took a long time for that relationship to heal. I'm sure both of us had some healing to do. On my side, there was a moment of incredible hurt in the moment of being most vulnerable. On my mother's side, I really can't explain it.
My mom, a devoted Catholic, did not reflect Jesus well then. She let what was welling inside her get the better of her. She had no choice but to express her hurt. At the moment in my life when I was turning to those parents, I thought they would love me and help me no matter what, but they didn’t. She didn’t. Her jealousy, resentment, and probably much more unresolved got the better of her. That reaction at that moment in my life pushed me further away. The rejection, the reminder, and the hurt I inflicted without knowing it. This was not welcoming and caused more harm than good.
Peter denied Jesus as Jesus was being wrongfully accused, beaten to heck, and eventually murdered. Peter was there for it all. Jesus would have had every human right not to be happy with Peter. To remind Peter of how weak he was and how he failed Jesus. After all that was done for Peter, Jesus could have leaned in hard. Many of us would be okay with that, but Jesus doesn't do that at all.
Jesus shows us that exchanging hurt for hurt is not how to handle it. No good can come from pointing out the failings or how you got hurt by that person. They know it, and it won't change anything that was done. What seemed to matter was this, Jesus loved Peter, and Peter was better than what he did. Peter had potential, and Jesus knew this, Peter needed another chance; Peter had to put things behind him so he could move on from that point. Peter needed a new relationship, not the one he had, not the one that led to what he did. He needed a renewed relationship informed by what happened but defined by all of it and especially the "what now " part of continued. He needed the freedom to be the best version of Peter, and being loved by Jesus was part of it.
We can hurt each over so much. It is unfair to be hurt by another than to overcome it and live on. It isn't easy. It's like a car accident that isn't your fault. Your car is damaged, and you might be too. The other person really moves on, and you have to fix the car and maybe even yourself. Not fair at all and probably caused by some careless act that changed everything in a moment. Probably nothing you did on purpose. Nonetheless, consequences.
In relationships, we have to love. We have to look past the past. Jesus did that for Peter. God did that for us by sending Jesus to get us back to the right standing with God. God does it often when we are the failing, self-centered humans we can be. So Jesus guides us to "love on " and "welcome back." If we love someone, we can get past the past. I had to learn this. It wasn't how I thought, but having a life where God and others gave me second chances, it is clear that love ... well, it loves on. It welcomes you back and is excited for what comes next.
Being welcomed back is freeing. It is renewing. It allows you to have a foundation of a relationship where you get forgiven and accepted, and you can be this next version of yourself. It is gratifying, and I will always be willing to live in a world of "I love you forever and always, no matter what. " I think that is how Jesus would want me to be. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for welcoming me back those many times. Thank you for loving me during those times and for sticking with me. Thank you for being that voice of love who accepts me and wants the best. Thank you to those people who welcomed me back. Help me, Father, to reflect your way of love on my loved ones and anyone who needs a second chance. Thank you for the example of Peter, who was indeed the man of second chances and made the most of them. Now that we know this, Father, heal those who hurt, bring those who fear being hurt back to their families, and renew everyone that needs to get past the past. Please keep us, our families, and our friends safe. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
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