“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” - Revelation 22:12
Kempton New Church


Day 29: March 24

Readings:

And Jesus says to them, All of you shall be caused to stumble in Me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter declared to Him, Even if all shall be caused to stumble, yet not I. And Jesus says to him, Amen I say to thee, that today in this night, before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny Me three times. But he said the more exceedingly, If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee! And also they all said likewise. (Mark 14:27-31)

Peter represented the Church’s faith, or what amounts to the same thing, the Church as regards faith. The time when the cock crowed meant the final period of the Church, a time of day which was also called ‘cock-crow’. The triple denial meant a complete denial of the Lord at the end of the Church. (Arcana Coelestia 10134)

Reflection:

No matter how strong we think we are, we will come into states of doubt. Trusting in ourselves or our own strength will not keep us from times of trial, not even Peter was strong enough. Spiritual struggles mean feeling torn between natural and spiritual loves and like Peter we will fail if we trust our own strength. How can failure help us grow?

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