26 May, 2023 | Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, priest

 Gospel Jn 21:15-19



After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,

he said to Simon Peter,

"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"

Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

He then said to Simon Peter a second time,

"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

He said to him the third time,

"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,

"Do you love me?" and he said to him,

"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,

you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;

but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,

and someone else will dress you

and lead you where you do not want to go."

He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.

And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."

 

Reflections

When we answer the same question with the same answer thrice, without swaying over our words often implies confirmation. The person who says means it and the one who asked understood it. In the Gospel reading we witness the conversation scene between Jesus and Peter. Jesus before entrusting his ‘sheep’ to Peter wanted to get that exact confirmation from Peter whether he loved him more than the others. The firm and conscious response of Peter  affirms Jesus trust in Peter. He entrusted to Peter the task of taking care of his ‘sheep’ and in doing so, ensures that his life commitment is directed towards this mission. 

Activity:

 Imagine yourself in the place of Peter and Jesus asking you to love him more than anything else. What would be your response?




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