Pre-forgiveness

Imagine you have done something totally horrible and you were given a second chance.

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. - Luke 22:60-62

In today's Gospel reading, Peter catches himself doing exactly what Jesus said he would do, denying him three times before the cock crowed.

It is one thing to be forgiven and given a second chance, but in this instance, Jesus knew beforehand what Peter would do, and he continued to support him anyway.

We don't often thing of God's grace in those terms, that it is given knowing we will be undeserving.  It's kind of like the old "Get out of Jail Free" card in Monopoly.

So, if God knows we will turn against Him and He still loves and supports us, how does that make us feel?

Peter was ashamed and he wept.  But what if we behave badly, taking advantage of God's grace and continuing to act against Him?  If He will He still love us, what incentive is there to change?

I believe Jesus' message about the kingdom of God is one of discovery.  If we choose to turn to God and not turn against Him, we will discover the world in a new way, through the lens of the kingdom, bright and beautiful, in harmony with our selves and our souls.

But so long as we stray, we fail to live the full life now, and like Peter, we remain on the fringes, disconnected and unattached.  It is only when we turn back that we come home.

When we realize that we are already forgiven for all we may do, then we just might see the value in avoiding those choices altogether, and that brings us to life.

More to come...