Gospel: John
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.
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Reflection:
Do you love me? Jesus asked
Simon Peter three times this question. How deep is your love for Jesus? Would
you be willing to handle the responsibility that He will be giving you? Love is
not love unless you’re willing to sacrifice something, unless you’re willing to
handle a responsibility to prove that love.
Simon Peter failed in His
test of love for Jesus when he denied Jesus three times. He could have stood
for Jesus but Peter was afraid to lose his life, Peter was afraid to sacrifice
his very life for Jesus. That’s why he denied Jesus three times. At that moment
when Simon Peter denied Jesus Peter gave more importance to his own survival
than his love for his Lord and Master.
However, even if Peter denied
Jesus three times. Jesus still profoundly loved him. Jesus knew of the human
frailties of Peter, Jesus knew that when the going gets tough Peter would deny
Him. Yet He still loved Peter, Peter's denial of Jesus did not diminish Jesus
love for him. This is the reason why at the end of the gospel Jesus called
Peter to follow Him.
How many times have we denied
Jesus through the countless sins that we have committed? Yet in spite of these
sins Jesus still loves us so much. That He is willing to forget the countless
betrayals that we have done to Him. Thus He will never get tired of calling us
to follow Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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