St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer: Friday – Daughters of the King, Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Marthas, worship volunteers (acolytes, ushers and greeters, chalice bearers) and all over volunteer groups who work so tirelessly and joyfully for the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ at St. Paul’s.

  I arose with the sun this morning, a beautiful view from my hotel window here in Salt Lake City. It’s a pretty town, clean and HOT. Once the sun goes down it is wonderful in the early evening, low humidity DOES make a difference.

The gospel reading appointed for today includes these words from Jesus to Peter (Luke 22:31-32):

31’Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ 

This is the well known passage where Peter swears he will follow Jesus no matter what may happen, and Jesus tells Peter he will deny Jesus three times before the cock crows. But in reflecting on this passage this morning, I was struck by the tenderness in Jesus’ words. “I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus knew failure was coming for Peter. And he didn’t leave Peter with failure as the final answer. “When you have turned back”, he says. Not “if”. “When”. When you have turned back I need you, Peter, to be the strength, the ROCK as it were. Failure did not remove Peter from leadership or from evangelism or mission or service. Much was expected, still. Strengthen your brothers. And so he does. 

I don’t know about you but I am greatly encouraged by these words.