Page 45 - laten-08-06-2020

question played an imperative role, though girl’s name is not
mentioned in the Bible, her passionate question is extremely
important even today. Peter promised to Jesus passionately
saying “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you,”
in Matthew 26:35 but the same Peter lost his passion to follow
the Cross of Jesus Christ. Many times we also lost our passion,
instead of focusing our passion on the Cross; our passion is
focused on other things. God had a great purpose to mould
Peter as a disciple and as a leader but Peter was moving away
from the Cross. New Testament scholar David Joy says ‘women
voices played a vital role during the process of initiating
leadership.’ We can see how God spoke through the girl and
made Peter as a great responsible and transformed leader. Christ
was passionate to liberate people especially children from their
struggles, oppression, discrimination and bondages. In a similar
way we can show our passionate solidarity by carrying the Cross
and by listening from the broken children who struggle with
wounds, fears and tears. Then it becomes a fruitful Lent that
gives an amazing opportunity to renew and restore our passion
for Christ and focus on the Cross.

Girl’s question shows her ability to encourage When
Peter was going through trauma and fears, God had encouraged
Peter through a brilliant servant girl. God’s methodology is
different from our methodology. God’s encouragement is
entirely different from the encouragement of human beings.
Psalm 46:1 says ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble.’ Nameless brilliant girl helped Peter by her very
challenging question to be restored Christ. The same God is
using our children to fulfill God’s purpose. Psalm 127:3 says
‘Children are a heritage from the Lord,’ Bible affirms the value
of children and their wisdom and knowledge. Every single
child is precious at the sight of God. After these encounters
with the nameless servant girl, the cock crowed, and then Peter
remembered the word of the Lord, so Peter went out and wept
bitterly. Peter’s encounter and experience of the Cross can be
seen by the challenging questions of a girl child. Cross can be

39
Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People