Tuesday, March 5 (February 21), 2024
1John 3:11-20;  Mk. 14:10-42

How ardently St. Peter was assuring the Lord that he would never betray Him ─ but if fact later he did just that, no less than three times [Mk. 14:29-31]. Such is our infirmity!  Therefore, when you encounter the enemies, don’t rely on yourself, but put your whole trust in the Lord for overcoming them. 

That was the reason for allowing a great man like St. Peter to fall into such a sin, so that no one would later undertake doing something good or fighting an enemy, inside or outside, all by himrself, without God’s assistance.  God’s help will never come to someone who shuns it.  Such a man doesn’t even have a place to receive it: God’s help is accepted with the heart, and the heart is opened up to the Lord by the sense of yearning.

Yet, while you trust God, never give up your own struggle: Lord’s help comes in response to our efforts and, joining with them, bears fruit.  If there is no effort on our part, again there is no place for receiving Lord’s help ─ and we will never see it coming.  But if there is no humility in us, no appeal for help, ─ we will never see it either.

Thus, a personal effort and a humble call for help are both necessary:  Cry out: “O Lord, help me!” ─ and get to work on your own.

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