But he spoke the more vehemently, If I should die with you, I will not deny you by any means. Likewise also said they all.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
De Con. Even. iii, 2: Though all the Evangelists say that the Lord foretold that Peter was to deny before the cock crew, Mark alone has related it more minutely, wherefore some from inattention suppose that he does not agree with the others. For the whole of Peter’s denial is threefold; if it had begun altogether after the cock crew, the other three Evangelist would seem to have spoken falsely, in saying, that before the cockcrew, he would deny Him thrice. Again, if he had finished the entire threefold denial before the cock began to crow, Mark would in the person of the Lord seem to have said needlessly, “Before the cock crow twice, thou shall deny Me thrice.”But because that threefold denial began before the first cock-crowing, the other three did not notice when Peter was to finish it, but how great it was to be, that is, threefold, and when it was to begin, that is, before the cock crew, although the whole was conceived in his mind, even before the first cock crew; but Mark has rel...
Beautifully also does the Lord leadout His disciples, when they had tasted His Sacraments, into the mount of Olives, to show typically that we ought through the reception of the Sacraments to rise up to higher gifts of virtue, and graces of the Holy Spirit, that we maybe anointed in heart.
But the Lord foretells to His disciples what is about to happen to them, that when they have gone through it, they may not despair of salvation, but work out their repentance, and be freed. Wherefore there follows: “And Jesus saithunto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night.”.
This is written in different words in Zecharias, and in the person of the Prophet it is said to the Lord, “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”.
Peter then promised in the ardour of his faith, and the Saviour as God knew what was to happen. Wherefore it goes on: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cockcrow twice, thou shalt deny me th...
One of twelve deserted; eleven remained loyal. The cross came; they fled; one remained—Peter, one with One. This one himself fled, and would that he had! He denied Christ. We may say, then, that the entire human race was lost. Because it had perished, the complaint of the Lord crucified is: “The wine press I have trodden alone, and of my people there was no one with me.” Then was the Psalm fulfilled: “Help, O Lord! For no one now is dutiful.” “There is none who does good, no not even one.” He who has promised: “Even if I should have to die with thee, or be imprisoned, I will not deny thee,” denied him. On the Psalms, Homily
For by a hymn he means the praise of the Lord, as is said in the Psalms , “The poor shall eat and be satisfied; they that seek after the Lord shall praise Him.” And again, “All such as be fat upon earth have eaten and worshipped.”.
Jesus also is held captive on the mount of Olives, whence He ascended to Heaven, that we may know, that we ascend into Heaven from that place in which we watch and pray; there we arebound and do not tend back again to earth.
All indeed fall, but all donot remain fallen. For shall not he who sleeps also rise up again? Itis a carnal thing to fall, but devilish to remain lying when fallen.
For the Prophet prays forthe Passion of the Lord, and the Father answers, I will smite the shepherd according to the prayers of those below. The Son is sent and smitten by the Father, that is, He is made Incarnate and suffers.
In which the true Resurrection is promised, that their hope may not be extinguished. There follows: “But Peter said unto Him, Although all shall be off...
As they returned thanks, before they drank, so they return thanks after drinking; wherefore it is said, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives,” to teachus to return thanks both before and after our food.
He also shows by this that Hewas glad to die for us, because when about to be betrayed, He deigned to praise God. He also teaches us when we fall into troubles for the sake of the salvation of many, not to be sad, but to give thanks to God, Who through our distress works the salvation of many.
Again, He went out into amountain, that they might come to Him in a lonely place, and take Him without tumult. For if they had come to Him, whilst He was abiding in the city, the multitude of the people would have been in an uproar, and then His enemies, who took occasion against Him, should seem to have slain Him justly, because He stirred up the people.
The Lord allowed them to fall that they might not trust in themselves, and lest He should seem to have prophe...
