Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.    

"I can be so mean when I want to be, I am capable of really anything. I can cut you into pieces, but my heart is broken. Please don’t leave me, I always say how I don’t need you, but always come right back to this, so please don’t leave me. I forgot to say out loud how beautiful you really are to me, I cannot be without, you’re my perfect little punching bag, and I need you."

Peter the apostle's heart was broken. He had seen Jesus arrested. He had wanted to defend him, but Jesus had rebuked him and told him not to fight. Then he had decided to see what would happen to Jesus, and suddenly discovered that he too was in danger. He might very easily be arrested himself, and perhaps even killed. With all of that as a background, he said some things that he did not intend to say.

Pink's song "Please Don't Leave Me" gives a situation in which the lady in the song ruined a previous relationship, and would like to have it back again. The song brings up the question of meaning what you say. The lady in the song did not mean to be so hateful, but she was. When we feel pain, we sometimes may hurt another because at that time, we are only thinking of ourselves.

The lady in Pink's song realizes that she does not always say things in a correct way. In fact, as she says, she can be downright mean sometimes, forgetting about the things that she should be doing in their relationship. She knows that she says things that she really does not mean, but she says them anyway, and in the song, she has to do something about the damage she has caused by her words. She must learn to watch her words, and to mean what she says, no matter what the circumstance.

Human nature is the problem, of course. When we are hurt for some reason, we want to lash out at someone, make it clear that we have been offended, that we have a right to be upset. We are selfish in the way we want others to feel sorry for us. Therefore, we must train our human natures. We must make ourselves understand that at any given moment, we are probably going to want what we want , and we will say things that we really do not mean. We must hear ourselves speak, what words we say, what promises we make. We must understand our happiness and our anger and the effect that it has on us, and be willing to hold our tongues when we must.

There is a Chinese proverb that reads "A bad word whispered will echo a thousand miles." Our words are significant at all times in every situation. 

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we study your servant Peter and witness him saying words that he should never have said. Help us study our own use of words, and give us the grace to say what we mean with true respect for others. Be with us, we pray. 

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America