MONDAY, January 18* The Confession of Saint Peter

Simon Peter was bold in his answer: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Because of his boldness, Jesus rewarded Simon Peter with the promise of the keys to the kingdom. And then, within such a short time, Simon Peter failed Jesus, failed to stand up for him, failed to proclaim him the Messiah, failed to proclaim him Lord.

God bless Simon Peter! He tried so hard, failed so often, and then got right back up and tried again. He boldly floundered his way through discipleship when Jesus was alive, and kept right at it after the risen Lord sent him out into the world. He wasn't the most articulate, he couldn't quite get things right at least part of the time--and yet, upon him, Jesus built the church.

Peter is a personal hero precisely because he was such a failure so often. He's a hero because he didn't quit and he didn't let his own failings get in the way of the Good News of God in Christ Jesus. He tried and failed and tried again, and as a result, we are here today.

Do we have the courage to proclaim boldly, fail, then get up and do it all over again as well?

PRAY for the Diocese of All Saints Cathedral (Kenya)

*Today is the civil holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr. in the U.S. The church commemorates his life on April 4.