Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion - Cycle C

Luke 22:14—23:56

“the Lord turned and looked at Peter… and Peter went out and began to weep bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62)

In today’s Gospel, I’m drawn to this moment between Peter and Jesus. What was the expression on Jesus’ face, as He looked at Peter? What was the look in his eyes, when Peter met his gaze? 

It’s easy to place myself in Peter’s shoes. Out of self-protection, Peter denied his allegiance to the person he loved the most. And he denied Jesus not once, but repeatedly. His words convey he had lost sight of Whose he was. 

I’ve had an ongoing struggle with self-protective instincts in a relationship–instincts that do more harm than good, and, like Peter's, are hard to shut off. Recently, when I brought this struggle to the Lord with deep contrition and utter abandonment, I was met more clearly by his gaze–a gaze united with my sorrow; but holding so much more. A gaze that said, “You are so much more than this. Through My work in you, you will overcome this, be set free to love better, and become more fully who I’ve made you to be.” As I transferred my gaze from my struggles to the Lord’s love, I regained sight of Who He is and Whose I am, and was then able to begin moving forward differently. 

When Jesus foretold Peter’s betrayal, He said, “...once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” He knew Peter’s misstep would not derail God’s plans for him, because he would turn back to meet Jesus’ gaze and allow it to affect him. 

We all make missteps. Sometimes repeatedly. But that doesn’t have to be the end of the story. 

In this passage, Jesus made the first move: He turned and looked at Peter. And in that moment, Peter recognized both his utter helplessness, and that Jesus does not turn away from us in our sorry states.  

Jesus’ gaze is always turned towards us. Let us keep turning our gaze back to meet his. If we habitually do this, his love will continue to convict, transform, and guide us. And we can be assured that his love is greater than our failures, and his plans for good will prevail.