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:
Are you afraid to grow old?
The reality of life is this: we will eventually grow old; this is a
course of our life that no one of us can stop. Whether we like it or not we
will all be growing old and we will be at the mercy of those who will be with
us by that time.
Can we assure ourselves that we will be properly treated when we become
old and powerless? None of us can assure that there will be proper treatment
for us by that time but Jesus gives us some hint on how to assure proper and
equitable treatment for us when we become old and gray.
He tells us in the gospel to feed and take care of His people, in other words
feed and take care of anyone who is hungry. Don’t be selective; help everyone
who is in need. But let us not help with the motive in mind that we will do it
because we will be in need of help also in the distant future when we are old.
Let us help because this is the right act to do, help because this is
what Jesus wants from us immaterial if we will be helped or not in the future.
– Marino J. Dasmarinas
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