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After arresting [Jesus] they led him away and
took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a
distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around
it, and Peter sat down with them. When a maid saw him seated in the
light, she looked intently at him and said, "This man too was with
him." But he denied it saying, "Woman, I do not know him." A short
while later someone else saw him and said, "You too are one of them";
but Peter answered, "My friend, I am not." About an hour later, still
another insisted, "Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is
a Galilean." But Peter said, "My friend, I do not know what you are
talking about." Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the
Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the
Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will
deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly.
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"So scared of
breaking it, but you won’t let it bend. And I
wrote two hundred letters I won’t ever
send. Somehow it cut so much deeper than
they seem. You’d rather cover up, I’d
rather let them be, so let me be, and I’ll set you free. I
am in misery. There ain’t no other who can comfort
me. Why
won’t you answer me? Your silence is slowly killing
me. Girl,
you really got me bad; I’m gonna get
you back. I’m desperate and confused, so
far away from you. Why do you do what
you do to me?"
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We make
decisions all the time. Some of those decisions amount to no change in
the way we live; however, some affect us much later in
life. At times, decisions are good, and we have no desire to
change what they have brought about, but at other times, we realize
that the decisions we made were
not so
good, and we must change the consequences. Consider two different
sets of
decisions:
one from the Christian Scriptures when Peter chose to deny Jesus;
another from a story told by the music group Maroon 5 in their song
"Misery." In
both instances, the
people involved discover that they have made wrong
decisions, and now must do something about them.
Peter realized that his human nature was so weak that he had done the very thing that he said he would not do. Now, he would have to make major adjustments in his life. He had broken a promise, and now he had to adjust his future life. He was completely disappointed in himself, but he did not despair, although he was close to it. The man in Maroon 5's song "Misery" realizes that the dream of romantic love that he had is not going to happen. The important lesson to learn in both situations is a lesson for life itself: sometimes there are disappointments, even major disappointments, but mature people must be able to adjust, even if it means giving up something they really want. Disappointments plague human beings. Young and old alike have disappointments almost daily. Sometimes the disappointments completely incapacitate us, causing internal shutdown and sickness. The mature person will face those disappointments, realizing that maturity demands reflection rather than reaction. The time when a person is miserable is not the time to make decisions. When a person is in misery, it is time to reflect on what caused the misery, a time to learn something about oneself. Then, and only then, should one act. It seems that the person in Maroon 5's song is about to make a decision based on feelings rather than thinking through the problem. Thinking through the problem means accepting the situation as it is, whether we have created it or not, and adjusting to the reality. It is not an easy part of maturity, but it is an essential part. |
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Good and gracious God,
there are many things that happen to us during our lives, sometimes because of our
own decisions. Help us learn to adjust to whatever happens, and then
move on to better things with the help of your grace. Be
with us, we pray.
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+++++
GUIDE
FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: When we are in misery we must think through the problems, and learn from them. THE GOSPEL 1. In Luke’s Gospel, Peter remains in the courtyard during Jesus’ initial persecution. Luke probably means to show the endurance of Peter who remains close to Jesus even though in danger. What is most dangerous for the young person in today’s world? 2. Luke the evangelist shows that Peter is willing to help Jesus, but in a half-hearted way. In your opinion, what would have happened to Peter if he had stood his ground and defended Jesus? 3. As Luke records it, Jesus was being taken through the courtyard as Peter denies him. Jesus looks at him as Peter denies him. What do you think was going through Peter’s mind at that time? THE SONG 1. The man in the song and in the relationship is in “misery.” What causes a person to be in misery in our day and age? What can be done about each problem that you listed? 2. Text analysis: “There ain’t no other who can comfort me.” Generally, this is not a true statement. Who are the people you can trust to comfort you the most? Why? 3. Text analysis: “I’m gonna get you back.” What are the best ways to renew a relationship that has ceased? THE MEDITATION 1. What are some decisions that people make that will determine their future lives? 2. What is the best way to determine whether we have made a wrong decision? 3. What is the usual way of responding to the disappointments of life? 4. What are the principal disappointments that happen to young people? What can be done about them? 5. The meditation suggests that we “reflect” on the disappointments. In your opinion, exactly what does it mean to “reflect” on them? 6. What is the best way to adjust to a problem? Outline any steps that should be taken. 7. What does the song “Misery” teach young people? |
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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