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\\u25fc\\ufe0eJourney Stations of the Cross: Sunday, March 21 \\u2013 Sunday, April 4 \\u25fc\\ufe0e

Our Stations of the Cross experience will take us on a journey following the footsteps of Christ, immersing us in the biblical account of the last hours and days of Jesus' life. Take a few minutes each day to watch a short video and to respond and reflect. Connect with Jesus and prepare your heart as we head into Good Friday and Easter.

The following is the script from the video. You may also follow along using the downloadable reflection booklet.

\\u25fc\\ufe0e Station 4: Denial \\u25fc\\ufe0e
Jesus is Denied by Peter
Matthew 26:69\\u201375

Supplies: Piece of paper and pen or pencil

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, \\u201cYou also were with Jesus the Galilean.\\u201d But he denied it before all of them, saying, \\u201cI do not know what you are talking about.\\u201d When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, \\u201cThis man was with Jesus of Nazareth.\\u201d Again he denied it with an oath, \\u201cI do not know the man.\\u201d After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, \\u201cCertainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.\\u201d Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, \\u201cI do not know the man!\\u201d At that moment the rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: \\u201cBefore the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.\\u201d And he went out and wept bitterly.

We can imagine Peter\\u2019s denial of Jesus breaks Jesus\\u2019 heart\\u2014we know it breaks Peter\\u2019s, too.

But it\\u2019s not the whole story.

Here, Peter says \\u201cno.\\u201d No, I don\\u2019t know him. No, he\\u2019s not my friend. No, I\\u2019m not part of what\\u2019s happening here. Peter denies Jesus, and when he does, he also denies himself.

Because before this, Peter has been saying \\u201cyes\\u201d to Jesus.

He\\u2019s been saying yes to the call to discipleship, yes to this journey toward the unknown, yes to trusting in the promises of God and the hope of God\\u2019s kingdom here on earth.

These \\u201cyeses\\u201d mean he\\u2019s also been saying \\u201cno\\u201d in other ways: no to despair, no to injustice, no to a community where not all are recognized as beloved.

Here, Peter\\u2019s fear gets the best of him. It convinces him to say no to what he\\u2019s been saying yes to for so long. It convinces him to deny what he trusts and who he is.

Think of a \\u201cyes\\u201d you\\u2019ve said that is central to your identity. Write it down. Fold up the paper, small enough to carry in your pocket.

When this video ends, carry it with you.

Whenever your fear threatens, unfold this paper. Let your rereading and remembering of this \\u201cyes\\u201d give you the courage to know who you are, even in the face of your fear.