Every Day, a Courtyard Choice

The following was preached by Fr. Will Wainio as a homily on Good Friday - April 3, 2026 at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Kent, Ohio.

Last evening, we sat at the table of the Lord. We were there with Judas. We watched as Jesus knelt down and washed his feet. We saw Him hand Judas the very bread that had become His Body. We went out into the garden and witnessed the unthinkable, Judas, a friend, one who knew Him well, betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Peter and the Cock by Peter Brandl

And tonight…we stand in the courtyard with Saint Peter.

“I will never deny you, Lord!”And yet, before the cock crowed, Peter denied Him. Not once. Not twice. But three times.

And if we are honest, so do we.

There are moments in our lives when we are like Judas—when we trade Jesus for something lesser. And there are moments when, like Peter, we cry out in one way or another:“I do not know the man.”

It is easy to say, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior” when life is comfortable, when faith costs us nothing. But when life becomes difficult, when pressure builds, when fear creeps in, how quickly we find ourselves in that courtyard.

We deny Him in ways that are subtle, but real.

We deny Him when we choose comfort over conscience—when we support what is unjust because it benefits us, when we look the other way as others are treated without dignity, because speaking up might cost us something.

We deny Him in our silence, when Christ is mocked, when truth is twisted, and we say nothing to avoid tension or awkwardness.

We deny Him by living divided lives, faithful in church, but not in the world; professing belief with our lips, but contradicting it with our actions.

We deny Him when we choose what is easy instead of what is right… when we keep our distance from the Cross… when we are hesitant to be known as His disciples… when our faith becomes routine instead of relationship… when we stop trusting Him in the trials of life.

Like Peter, we follow, but at a distance.

And yet, my brothers and sisters, Good Friday is not just about our failure. It is about His fidelity.

Because even as we deny Him… He does not deny us.

Even as Peter falls, Jesus looks at him, not with condemnation, but with mercy. A look that pierces his heart. A look that calls him back.

And that is the hope of this day.

The story does not end in the courtyard. It does not end at the Cross.It leads to the Resurrection of Jesus.

And there, the risen Christ will seek Peter out, not to shame him, but to restore him.“Do you love me?”

The Crucifixion, Stained Glass Window, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church - Saint Angela Merici Parish - Youngsotwn, Ohio

That same question is asked of us tonight.

Not: Have you been perfect?

Not: Have you never denied me?

But simply: Do you love me?

Because our denials are not the end.Our failures can become the place of deeper discipleship. And His mercy is always greater than our weakness.

So tonight, as we venerate the Cross, we do so not as perfect disciples, but as those who have stood in the courtyard… and are still loved.

“We may not stand in Caiaphas’ courtyard, but every day gives us a chance either to deny Christ… or to stand with Him.”

May we have the courage, not just to say we know Him… but to live as though we do.