Abandonment, Part 3 of 6

Meditations on the way to Palm Sunday

Jesus was abandoned by Peter, chief among the disciples, whose self-confident expression of loyalty, “I will never desert you”,[1] lingered painfully fresh in his consciousness to mock his cowardice when, under the pressure of self-preservation, he thrice blurted out his betrayal, “I do not know the man!”[2]

I wonder. To absent oneself from another, even the dearest of friends, who stands in desperate need. Not returning phone calls, texts, or emails. Averting one’s eyes so not to meet the needful gaze of the other. Avoiding former meeting places and potential awkward encounters. Perhaps, in fairness to oneself, under the weight of anxiety, not knowing what to do or say. Nevertheless, acting as if the other doesn’t exist.

Has such a thing ever been done to any of us or by any of us?

I would guess, yes.

To be continued…

© 2023 PRA

Illustration: The Denial of Saint Peter (1610), Caravaggio (1571-1610)

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[1] Matthew 26.33

[2] Matthew 26.70, 72, 74