Joe Yapzor

Divine mercy

He was my friend,

A close ally.

We ate together, drank together, and shared many laughs.

We walked the streets,

Crossed the seas,

Faced the storms.

Through it all, he kept his steeze.

He was mighty — we knew it.

“Son of God,” I said.

He knew his fate, his future,

Yet all he asked of us was faith, even if it was little.

When trouble arose, he told us.

When pain encroached, he warned us.

I made him a promise:

“Through storm and cloud, I will stand by you.

Though everyone else may flee, I will fight for you.”

Those were my words… just hours before I denied him —

Before a gatekeeper, a little girl, and Marcus.

The cock crowed, and it broke me.

Regret and disappointment overwhelmed me.

I ran away.

I could not wait; I could not stay.

I failed him. I disappointed him.

Up in the room, I hid — with my brothers and sisters.

Fear gripped us. Doors locked.

We knew not what to do.

How could we face forward?

How could we move ahead?

Then he appeared.

And when I expected him to say, “Shame on you,”

He said instead, *”Peace be with you.”*

“Peace?” — not punishment, not vawulence —at least that’s what I deserved.

Not wo ni a wu (“Your eyes have died”)._

No — he said:

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

He forgave me — fully, freely.

He forgot my wrongs and even trusted me enough to entrust me with his mission.

This is mercy. Divine mercy.

I am Peter.

I didn’t deserve it.

But he gives it — to such as us.

Open your hearts to mercy.

Divine mercy.