The following post is from a reader of my blog. It is a beautiful reflection on what I posted last week about Saint Peter. His name is Ty Gonabe and he has given me permission to post his comments.

-Fr. Richard DeLillio, OSFS

 Great reflection Father.  

Man, did I do a lot of thinking about St. Peter during the latter part of Holy Week and into Easter Sunday. During Holy Week, Timothy Cardinal Dolan gave an interesting sermon partially about St. Peter's denials of Jesus and as is often my wont I put myself in St. Peter's shoes. How devastated, how empty, how ashamed I would have felt. Total despair. Bad enough that I personally denied Jesus three times- but also that basically my entire world & purpose for living was violently and totally destroyed that Friday afternoon. What was the purpose in going on? Everything I lived for was gone.

But as your reflection advises Jesus would rather forgive than punish and always believed goodness flourished when given a chance. Peter did himself a huge favor when he stated to Jesus “Yes, Lord you know everything, you know that I love you." I believe he most likely facilitated his own redemption with those words. He was telling Jesus Lord-You know EVERYTHING.  I can hide nothing from you. I have shown you that I am weak and that I am a coward and a sinner. These things I cannot hide. But knowing everything- you must know Lord that I love you." 

What an amazing return to grace Peter must have felt when gifted with Jesus’ forgiveness and grace. Like Peter I need to realize always that Jesus knows everything. When I choose to kid myself and sin- rationalizing and convincing myself that my chosen behavior is not that bad or that 'everybody does it' I must realize that even though I'm fooling myself- Jesus I cannot fool. The sooner I come to grips with this fact the better person and Catholic I will be.

 Thanks for the healing words Father. 

Best always,

Ty

 The Penitent Saint Peter, El Greco artist