ACC ~ John 18 v17

THE MAIDEN AND THE WAVES

ROMANUS MELODUS:

Forgetful of the fearful waves[1]

And changed by the remark of the maiden,

Peter said, “Christ, God,

When I was sinking in the waves, I was frightened, and with reason.

Calling out to Thee, I have fallen, through my denial;

But weeping, I cry to Thee:

Hasten, Holy One, save Thy Sheep.”

Another kind of deep water is here on land, the maidservant;

But as I find a pilot for the future

I flee to Thee for refuge as to a harbor.

Lord, I shall shed my tears of intercession to you,

And hence I shall cry out to you:

“Hasten, Holy One, save Thy sheep.”

O Good Shepherd, Thou who hast placed His Spirit in the flocks,

Hasten, Holy One, save Thy sheep.

KONTAKION ON PETER’S DENIAL 18, PROOIMION 1-3.[2]

PETER DENIES HIS CHRISTIANITY

AUGUSTINE: See how the pillar of greatest strength has at a single breath of air trembled to its foundations. Where now is all that boldness of the one who made promises and who had such overweening confidence in himself beforehand? What now of those words when he said, “Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake.” [1] Is this the way to follow the Master—to deny his own discipleship? Is this the way one lays down his life for the Lord—frightened at a maidservant’s voice that might compel us to the sacrifice? But is it any wonder that God foretold what was true, and human beings presumptuously imagined what was false? Assuredly in this denial of the apostle Peter, which had now entered on its first stage, we ought to take notice that not only is Christ denied by one who says that he is not Christ, but by someone also who, while really a Christian, himself denies that he is so. For the Lord did not say to Peter, “You shall deny that you are my disciple” but “you shall deny me.” [2] He denied him, therefore, when he denied that he was his disciple. And what else did such a form of denial imply but a denial of his own Christianity? [3] … How many afterward, not only old men and women who have had long lives already, but even boys and girls—along with an innumerable company of holy martyrs with brave hearts who by a violent death entered the kingdom of heaven—how many end up doing what at that moment Peter was unable to do who received the keys of that kingdom? It is here we see why it was said, “Let these go their way,” when Jesus, who has redeemed us by his own blood, gave himself for us. It was so that the saying that he spoke might be fulfilled, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.” For assuredly, if Peter had gone away after denying the Christ, what else would have awaited him but destruction? TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 113.2. [4]

[1] Jn 13:37.

[2] Mt 26:34.

[3] Augustine then speaks of the legitimacy of using the anachronistic term Christian.

[4] CCL 36:636-37; NPNF 1 7:418-19**.

PETER HUMBLED FOR THE FUTURE

CHRYSOSTOM: Peter was permitted to be the first to fall, in order that he might be less severe to sinners from the remembrance of his own fall. … Peter, the teacher and master of the whole world, sinned, and he obtained pardon in order that judges might from there on out have that rule to go by in dispensing pardon. … For this reason I suppose the priesthood was not given to angels. Otherwise, being without sin themselves, they would punish the sins of the people without pity. Rather, man [a human being] is placed over man in order that remembering his own sin, he may be merciful to others who are sinners. SERMON ON ST. PETER AND ELIJAH 1. [1]

[1] PG 50:728.

PETER LATER RECOVERS HIS FOOTING THROUGH WEEPING

ORIGEN: Peter had once almost been lost and taken away from the consecration of the apostolic number by the instigation of the devil through the mouth of the maidservant of the high priest. But when Jesus simply looked on him and turned toward him the lines of his gentle face, he immediately came to himself and, recovering his footing, wept bitterly. Peter, looked on by God in this way, recovered by weeping his place that he had lost by denying. HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 16.7.3. [1]

[1] FC 83:275-76**; GCS 29(6):505.

[1]Mt 14:28-33. Romanus parallels Peter’s fear of the waves with his fear of the maiden.

[2]KRBM 1:181.