Pastor: Richard Hurd
The Midweek Message is an On-Line Ministry
Of Pastor Dick Hurd and the “Caton Church”
A Global Methodist Community of Faith October 7, 2026
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is where Jesus meets his disciples following the resurrection and He prepares breakfast for them. In that story He takes Peter aside and asks… “Peter, Do you love me?” and of course Peter again and again confesses his love and devotion to Jesus. In that exchange there is no condemnation regarding Peters denial. There is no reprimand for his shortcoming, no harsh words of correction, not even a “don’t let it happen again lecture,” only a simple question and an opportunity for Peter to move forward beyond, and in spite of His failure.
It always strikes me that this is what we all need, isn’t it? Every time we fall short of the Glory of God as scriptures assures us that we will surely do, Jesus offers us a way back. It doesn’t make sense in our understanding of justice. We expect that the scales should balance, that for every failure there should be a just and appropriate price to pay. I think that is what Peter was waiting for and expecting that morning, but he was eager to face the music so to speak. Scripture says that he threw himself off the boat and swam as fast as he could to see Jesus once again perhaps to confess, to beg for mercy, to be once again in the Holy presence of the incarnate God. Do we not want that very same thing when we fail?
It is a mystery to me that over and over again we forget about the blessing of God’s Grace. We hang on to past failures and they continue to be that once burdensome albatross around our necks. We claim to be a child of God and then live as if we were not. Another passage assures that God’s grace is sufficient for all our needs, but first we need to seek and accept it for ourselves. A gift given but not accepted is of little value, but once received it is a treasure beyond value. So, when we do fall short of God’s glory, when we do stumble and fall on our journey towards Him. Like Peter, we must go to Him as fast as we can, be in His presence, confess our failure and receive His grace and forgiveness. I know it sounds too simple and too easy to be true, but this is the wonder and the blessing of God’s love for His creation.
Yours in the Love of Christ,
Pastor Dick
Breath Prayer, Yes Lord, You know that we love You Amen
