Tuesday, December 14

Isaiah 9:1-7

Psalms 45, 47, and 48

2 Peter 1:12-21

Luke 22:54-69

Luke 22:54-57

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."

Who was the girl who accused Peter? What set her off and caused her to put his life in jeopardy? Indeed what energizes the accusers of the world? The mob was ready for the vicarious excitement of watching someone else take punishment. Little did they know that He did it for them. Jesus is innocent and even hears His own disciple turn coward. Did the girl set in motion the events that ultimately brought Peter to a deeper, more courageous faith? Perhaps this is so but that was not her motivation. She was enjoying watching Peter squirm; she enjoyed his discomfort. She licked up his fear like a dog at a water bowl. How thoughtful we must be when we are tempted to point the finger, for by doing so we commit the greater sin.

Fr. David Puckett