Restoring Peter

After Peter's fall –that is, his denial of the Master– there are two events that show the Lord's initiative to restore him. Both occurred after the resurrection. The first, the mention that the angels make of his name so that he joins the other disciples in Galilee (Mark 16:7), and the second, the appearance of the Lord to Peter before the other disciples (1 Cor. 15:5; Luke 24:34).

These two facts are very relevant. Peter had fallen heavily, and the Lord personally takes care of restoring him. Naturally, we are not to see here the exaltation of Pedro to a hegemonic position. It is about loving more the one he needed more because he had sinned more. It is true, they had all fled in Gethsemane and had left him alone, but only Peter had denied him three times with his mouth.

Now, what did the Lord see in Peter to care for him like this? First, he saw his bitter tears when the rooster crowed that night (Luke 22:61-62). Second, the feeling of unworthiness that must have seized Peter, to the point of no longer considering himself one of his disciples. Those days when Jesus was in the tomb must have filled Peter's heart with fatalistic thoughts. All was lost! He would never get another chance. (Let's not forget that the resurrection of the Lord was not in his plans).

Peter grieved deeply for having denied his Lord, from whom he had only received good. From that moment, Pedro had entered a deep tunnel that had no light at the end. The feelings of contrition must have been deep and drastic. Peter needed to feel the Lord's forgiveness and be restored. Who could do it better than Him?

Forgiveness and restoration run (and perhaps fly) to help the repentant heart. But without repentance there is no forgiveness, nor is there restoration. It's like that always. Our falls do not surprise the Lord; his blood is ready to cleanse us and his love to restore us. As soon as the heart turns to him, contrite and repentant, he acts beautifully!

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