Every year I find it helpful to focus on one particular detail of the Passion narrative. This year I found myself drawn to the account of the events around the fire in the High Priest's courtyard.
Much of what I share here is influenced by Rene Girard's thought, especially in his book "The Scapegoat". He breaks open the story of Peter's denial and shows its universality.
But I realized something new this year as I re-read this portion of the Passion. There are two fires in Holy Week, not one. And it's the second one that I think functions as the antidote to the first.
