Lent Cell Session 6 - Prayer Stations. Theme: Humility, denial, daily cross and empowerment.

Maundy Thursday
(Matthew 26: 31 – 34)
Then Jesus said to them, “This night, all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed'; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said to him “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”

Denial is a big thing. We deny many things; for some, they deny the importance of relationships; others, they deny time for themselves by participating in too many activities; while others deny and rebel against rules; etc. Sounds familiar?

Peter was confident that he would not deny Jesus. Why should he? Jesus is Christ and the King. He had come to free the world from Romans rule and lead them to a brand new kingdom on Earth. Peter can be a duke in Jesus' new kingdom! Why should he give up something so precious by denying him? It makes no sense!

Jesus: Peter, you will deny me before the cock crows.
Peter: Certainly not, sire!
Jesus: I'm serious, Peter!
Peter: Nope!
Jesus:....
Peter: Listen, I'm not going to deny you, Jesus.
Jesus: You just did, Peter. You just denied me three 3 times.

In our everyday life, we deny God in a lot of things. We deny Him when we refuse to see the old lady standing in front of us when we are sitting down. We deny Him when we ignore someone new. We deny Him when we laugh or gossip about someone. We deny Him in a thousand and one ways everyday.

Same as Peter, we refuse to see God for who He really is. We deny Him as the old lady. We deny Him as the newcomer. We deny Him as the person in the gossip. We are blind.

A question for reflection:
Recall an unpleasant event that had occurred and ended up in a argument. In what ways have you deny the existence of Jesus during that event or in that person? Did you try to understand that person or where he/she was coming from?

Offering:
1) Offer a prayer for that event/person.
2) Pick up the courage to offer your apologies to that person.