Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, June 9, 2024
I don’t collect roosters. We only own one, this one. And the reason we own him is that years ago a distant relative we’ve never met tracked us down to both collect and share family information about my husband’s side of the family.
It was fun hearing from him, and the piece of family lore that has lingered with me from his stories is that the family crest for our last name, Schurch, is a rooster, and the motto is “he who likes to get up early in the morning.”
I laugh. It’s clear that this is a motto I married into, rather than one that describes me personally, because I tend to be more of a night owl than a rooster. Nevertheless, in honor of this family legend, I acquired our rooster many years ago, maybe from a yard sale.
I thought of him when I wrote last week’s blog, and began by talking about weather vanes. I did more research than I intended on these wind indicators, because one fascinating fact or photo led to another. And very few of them found a place in last week’s blog!
Roosters are the most common weather vane toppers, and there are a couple of different theories as to why that is so. But over and over I read that Pope Gregory I (in office 590–604) declared the rooster “was the most suitable emblem of Christianity,” since it was the emblem of St. Peter.
In the 9th century Pope Nicholas I decreed that a rooster weather vane be placed at the top of every church.
And why was a rooster deemed a suitable emblem of St. Peter?
I was directed over and over again to Luke 22:34:
Then He [Jesus] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
True story. Yet I became indignant on Peter’s behalf that the rooster became his symbol. How would we like it if an emblem of our darkest hour, our most grievous sin, became firmly, officially attached to our name and thus defined us?
Because hours after Jesus spoke to Peter, His words came true, and as Peter realized what he had done to his Best Friend, he broke down in remorse and repentance.
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62 NKJV)
His repentance leads to redemption, and it’s not a long trip. It’s the path each of us is promised. God’s words are plentiful on this score; here are a few choice examples:
He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19 NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9 NKJV)
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12 NKJV)
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7 NKJV)
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5b NKJV)
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV)
God doesn’t have accidental amnesia; He deliberately chooses this forgetfulness. It is supplied immediately upon request, free and full.
So could we replace the rooster with a better symbol for Peter? I thought of one that I really like, although it would be difficult to portray as a weather vane topper: Water.
Peter knew water well as a fisherman; Peter walked on water, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus; Peter wept those bitter tears; Peter knew that his sins had been cast into the depths of the sea; and at Pentecost Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached a Risen Saviour and called his listeners to repentance and into the waters of baptism.
I am so thankful that when God looked at repentant Peter, He didn’t see a rooster, and He doesn’t see our roosters, either. Now if we can only do the same, by the grace of God, for ourselves and others!
As we step out into this brand-new week, we can live loved, and live forgiven!