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.”

Reflection

It seems clear that Jesus is asking Peter three times because shortly before this moment, he had denied Jesus three times. But that's not the essence of what this scripture wants us to see. It's simply this, all of us are called to be disciples. All of us are called to be like the apostles. And he says three things to Peter; feed my lambs,

tend my sheep, feed my sheep. Why, why different? Feed my lambs. Lambs are babies, so it's like feed those who need careful care and don't expect much. And then as they get older, tend them. Be with them. Watch them. Encourage them. And then the final is feed them. And feeding is such an interesting image because it's related so much to the Eucharist and to our taking God in the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit into our hearts. We are truly cared for.

Closing Prayer

Father, help us to realize that we all share in the same ministry that Jesus is so powerfully revealing to us. We have the father within us. Our personality, our way of being, our presence can resonate His love. Give us the hope and the joy that that realization brings. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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