He said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
And they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely not I, Lord?” …
Then Jesus said to them,
“You will all become deserters because of me this night.”
Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you,
I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
—from Matthew 26.21-35
Jesus, my Friend,
my Beloved, my Person,
I love you, and I will falter.
I will deny you. I will betray you.
Three times ten thousand times
I will deny you.
The silver pieces lie in my pocket.
I have the nails.
And you, knowing, invite me to your table,
to the place of honor even,
this seat of greatest grace,
beside you,
to share your bread with me,
and lay down your body for me.
I can hardly look into the sun
of such forgiveness,
love’s empty tomb
that defeats me,
re-makes me.
I confess. I return.
Knowing, I follow,
drawn in your grace,
this burden that is light.