25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- What do you see as the similarities and differences between betrayal (Judas) and denial (Peter)? In your mind, which is worse?
- What was the result for Judas (see Mt 27:3-5)?
- What was the result for Peter? (see Jn 21:1-18)?
- What did Peter believe and understand that Judas missed?
- Do you think Jesus paid the penalty for Judas’ sin (see 1 Jn 2:2)? Do you think Judas could have experienced that same forgiveness and reinstatement that Peter did? Explain.
- In what way(s) are you like Judas? …like Peter?
Prayer
Jesus, you came to forgive the sins of the whole world. There are times I have sat in judgement thinking, “His sin is worse than my sin.” Forgive me for those times. I am thankful that you forgive me in the ways I am like Peter and in the ways I am like Judas. Without you, I would certainly face death. Because of you, I have a restored relationship with my Heavenly Father. Thank you. Amen.
Greek Word of the Day
English Word: denied (720) | Transliterated Word: Arneomai (ar-neh-om-ahee)
Contradict, disavow, reject, abnegate, deny, refuse reject, renounce
To contradict, to affirm not to be
Family Engagement Activity
Today,
From https://howtoadult.com/honesty-games-kids-7818752.html
Preschooler Games
Three-year-olds have difficulty distinguishing between make-believe and reality, so find opportunities to reinforce the distinction. For example, when you are watching television together, point out which characters are not real such as dragons and witches or fairies. Make a memory game out of it by collecting pictures of these characters and pasting them onto cards. Make another set of cards from old family photographs. Shuffle the cards and turn them all face-down. Ask your child to guess whether the next card is a real person or a make-believe character. Then turn over the card and see if he/she can correctly identify it. Alternatively, make silly statements such as, “We live in a castle,” and have him/her tell you whether the statement is true or not. Reward correct answers with points, stickers or a chocolate chip.
Elementary School Games
Young children can relate to stories with moral dilemmas. Turn the stories into games by presenting two versions of the same story, one that reflects honesty and integrity and one that does not. Ask your child to identify the honest one. For example, in the “Goldilocks” story, instead of walking into a stranger’s house uninvited and helping herself to food, Goldilocks sits outside and waits for the bears to come home. The Values Education website suggests a version of Snakes and Ladders for older children.
Values Education: A Game of Honesty and Lies
Prepare a set of cards that describe honest situations such as informing a store owner that you received too much change. Prepare another set that describe dishonest actions such as lying to a parent. A player draws a card when they approach a snake or a ladder. If the child pulls a “dishonest” card when he’s at the top of a snake, he must go down, but can’t descend if he draws an “honesty” card. Similarly, if he gets an “honesty” card at the foot of a ladder, he can go up, but not if he draws a “dishonest” card.
Games for Teens
Use ethical dilemmas that occur in the news as topics for a values-based discussion with your teen. Make a game of it by asking each family member to find a news item that demonstrates the importance of honesty and bring it to the dinner table each week.
Values Education: A Game of Honesty and Lies
The rest of the family votes on the item that reflects the most honesty or dishonesty. Examine the short- and long-term consequences of making moral decisions in the “What Happens Next?” game. Ask your teen to describe a situation in which he or a friend faced a moral decision, but he doesn’t tell the decision. The next player continues the story by describing an honest choice. The next player then describes the short-term consequences likely to follow that decision; the final player describes the long-term effects. Go around a second time, but start with a dishonest response to the situation. Parents can play along with their teens, describing moral choices that occur in their workplace.
Going Activities To Consider
Today, know the difference Peter knew and Judas didn’t. There is always forgiveness. Focus on that forgiveness today. Offer that forgiveness to others so they may know that forgiveness is available for everyone!