Little Catholic boy, big catholic boy

       You can take the boy out of the (Roman) Catholic church, but you can't take the Catholic church out of the boy.  For good and/or bad, a lens I will probably always apply the stuff I was taught as a Roman Catholic. That is, at the very least, 20 solid years of formal education so the indoctrination is well established. It probably also accounts for why my anger at times is so deep when seeing their abundant faults. What brings this up is twofold. The readings this morning from Luke speak about sin, a denial of Christ. It is not done in a doctrinal way but rather a metaphysical way. Pretty deep for a scripture passage.

       So the first note is when Peter says "Man" in his denial of knowing or being part of Jesus' entourage.  I am pretty certain that the exact word was not "man" in the original text but probably something very close in intent. It speaks not only to the crowd but also from Peter. A denial of Jesus. isn't that what sin is all about? It is our turning away from God, negating 'the plan', denying our own essence.  Peter does a fine job of denial and his remorse is quick.

       Then I think of our personal denials of God. When have we said no to God? Have we ever turned our back and gone the wrong way with intention? Then the Roman boy returns and I begin to qualify sin. Venial or mortal little boy, which is it?  If I recall my reasonings from school, mortal is the more serious because it is (a) intentional and more so, (b) it involves a matter of graveness. Graveness involving, such things as life , death, The Spirit or something of that nature. Not simply stealing a candy bar as a kid or telling a lie. The little Catholic boy might say a mortal sin is turning your back on God, shutting and locking the door behind you and walking away. The big catholic boy would say, a serious abrogation of our relationship with our Creator. You can delve into the nitty gritty of sins for yourself.

        The essence of today's passage when Peter says "‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about! ", is a rehash of our being thrown out of the Garden of Eden. It is the reason Jesus is going to willingly be placed on the Cross and die for us. It is our human frailty and penchant for saying no to God. It is sin. Peter is responding for all of humanity. NO! I don't know Him.

          What a great passage even while it speaks to our weakness .  But there is the hope and answer in Jesus. This passage speaks to the time when Jesus will die for us. Equally as important is the time that Jesus is born for us. What incredible hope. The hope of a new child, new life, new opportunity. This week one of my nieces announced that she and her husband are expecting. Joyous!  Are we filled with hope at the news? You bet!  A new baby is all about new beginnings, it takes a community to raise one, it's about the hope and faith in God. Can we grasp a piece of the hope and love of God this Advent?  We do not have to turn our backs on God to keep this season Holy.  Just ask yourself, who is number one?

Luke 22:54-69

 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’ At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.

 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him;they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ They kept heaping many other insults on him.

 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, ‘If you are the Messiah, tell us.’ He replied, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’