Friday
of the 7th Week of Easter
June 6, 2014 8:30am
Today’s gospel tells us something
very definite about Jesus.
Peter has denied Jesus three
times.
Here Jesus asks him three times, “Do you love me?”
Jesus seeks no retribution or
vengeance or punishment for Peter’s denial.
I think we could say he
rehabilitates Peter.
He gives Peter the opportunity to
return to full relationship and friendship.
Peter does that and Jesus gives
him an important mission – to care for his sheep.
What a wonderful example for us
Jesus is here!
My other thought focuses on what
it means to love someone, to love Jesus as Peter declares here.
I see several things.
First, to love someone means that
we want to be with that person.
We today can be with Jesus in our
personal prayer and here at Mass.
This is a natural desire if we
truly love Jesus.
Second, to love someone means
that we are willing to do things to please them.
Peter is willing to accept the
mission Jesus gives him here.
We today can do this by trying to
follow the way of the gospel as closely as we can.
And third, to love someone means
that we are willing to sacrifice for them.
Jesus in this passage foretells
the sacrifice Peter will make – that he will go where he does not want to go.
This is a way of speaking about
the crucifixion that Peter will also endure as a result of his being an ardent
disciple of Jesus.
Today we also will make
sacrifices for Jesus and we do this by what we do for our families, our
neighbors, our parish, and anyone hurting or in need.
They are my thoughts this morning
on this beautiful passage.
