After every exhilarating experience, there is a risk of downfall. For instance, The Last Supper was followed by Peter’s denial and Judas’ betrayal. Their destiny was determined by how each responded to failure. Peter accepted the Lord’s mercy while Judas rejected it.

All of us experience failure along our spiritual journey. This could be because we

(a) Overestimate our strength;

(b) Fear disapproval from others; or

(c) Speak without thinking. We may overestimate what we can accomplish on our own and think that we can overcome any kind of temptation. During the Last Supper, Jesus warned the apostles that all of them would desert Him. Peter confidently claimed that no matter what the others did he would never abandon Jesus. He even dared to say that he would die for the Lord, rather than deny Him. As Saint Paul says, “So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Battles are lost when an army overestimates its strength. Students fail if they overrate their knowledge. Peter overestimated his strength in facing the temptations he would encounter. There are situations where we will flounder if we rely on our own strength. Every good thought, word or action requires God’s grace to accomplish. Most of us know our weaknesses, but when things are going well we may forget that we still need to exercise caution.

Peter’s denial of Jesus also illustrates how fear of others’ disapproval can lead us away from Christ. In our desire to make everyone happy, we may follow Jesus at a distance, afraid to reveal our true allegiance. Peter denied Jesus three times not because he did not love Him, but rather because he feared ridicule. How many opportunities have you missed to be a witness for Christ in your workplace because you were too embarrassed to speak up? How many chances to show mercy or justice did you miss when you simply turned away because you felt self-conscious? When our image of ourselves is defined by how others see us, we will never be truly happy and can easily lose our way. As Proverbs 29:25 says: “It is a dangerous trap to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust in the Lord, you will be safe.”

We also set ourselves up for failure when we speak without thinking. Uncaring statements wound many and may trigger emotional reactions. For example, the three people who pressed Peter on whether he knew Jesus seemed to have no interest in getting to know Him themselves. Rather, they appeared ready to condemn His followers. Instead of having the courage to witness to Christ in this moment, Peter denied knowing Jesus and finally started cursing and swearing. People swear when they have lost control of their emotions because it is a primitive response of the brain cortex under stress. In the past, with great confidence and commitment, Peter had loudly testified before a great audience that Jesus was the Son of God. He was proud to be the disciple of such a great Master but, overcome by fear, that was not enough to uphold him and he ran away. In his shame he retreated to the Upper Room where Jesus came to meet him after the Resurrection. In Galilee, he was given the opportunity to affirm his love for Jesus three times. After the Ascension, he returned to the Upper Room to pray while he awaited the Holy Spirit. Regular contemplation helps to strengthen and increase resilience of the brain’s pre-frontal cortex. If we include prayerful meditation such as the rosary in our routine we can remain calm, relaxed, stable and balanced, even under stress, instead of being driven by emotion.

Prayer:

Loving Master, let me learn from my failures. May I never turn away from Your love. But, if I should fail, help me to comprehend that You are always awaiting my return, ready to forgive and restore me by filling me with Your grace. Please give me victory over my faults. Amen.