Words of Life: An Enduring Legacyනියැදිය

Legacy of love: new depths of failure.

One evening, while making dinner, we noticed an eerie silence from the next room, where our two boys, aged four and one at the time, had been playing. Checking in, we found felt-tip-pen marks everywhere – on the walls, the chairs, and even on the youngest child’s face. Yet, despite all the evidence to the contrary, our eldest confidently declared, ‘It wasn’t me!’

Today’s readings focus on denial. In the first, Peter dismisses the idea that he could ever fail Jesus. Mark’s account (14:27-31) emphasises this further – despite Jesus’ clear prediction, Peter insists that even if all the other disciples fall away, he will remain faithful. He makes a mistake, which many in Christian service and leadership make: they think they are beyond the failures that others may be prone to. Yet, as the second reading shows, Peter’s denial unfolds exactly as Jesus foretold. In distancing himself from Christ, he not only fails his friend but also rejects the cost of true discipleship.

Like Peter, we may sometimes overestimate our own strength and underestimate our need for God’s grace. When we do fail – whether in our words, actions, or even in our silence – it is easy to feel ashamed or unworthy. We need to own our failures and our frailties. What we do see, however, is that this is precisely the thing that makes God’s love so incredible: God still chooses to use us in his mission, despite the inevitability of our failures. So today, let us come to God with honesty, knowing that even in our weakness, his grace is sufficient, his love is unwavering, and his purpose for us remains.