Our Worst and Our Best

            Today, we celebrated Holy mass at St. Peter in Gallicantu. It is located on the eastern slope of Mount Sion.  At this site stood the house of the high priest Caiaphas where Christ was brought after his arrest (Mk. 14:53) as well as where Peter denied Jesus (Mk. 14:66-72).  There is a truly beautiful church at the top of which sits a rooster.

            Peter denied his master three times, but what is more significant is Peter’s confession after the denial.  Scripture tells us that Peter “broke down and wept” (Mk. 14:72).  He realized his sin and confessed it.  Before Christ had given Peter the command to care for His sheep, he asked Peter three times, “Simon Peter, do you love me?” just as Peter had denied Him three times.  Being at this site reminded us of our weaknesses.  In one way or another, we have all denied Christ by our words and our deeds.  We have denied Him far more than three times!  Praying the Holy Mass at this site was like re-experiencing our denial of Jesus on one hand, while on the other hand it was a hopeful moment, in that if we confess our sins, God forgives us.

            It is when we recognize our weakness and sins and confess them that Christ not only forgives us, but entrusts us to carry out His mission just as He did with Peter.  As Bishop Sheen once said, “Sin is not the worst thing in the world, denial of sin is the worst thing in the world.”  We have been blessed today to be at this site in order to remind us of our weaknesses and to be assured of our hope of being forgiven, that we may carry on Christ’s mission.

            We continue to thank God for this opportunity and we also thank all who have made this pilgrimage possible.  With one voice we say, “God bless you all.”