FRIDAY of 7th WEEK of EASTER
"When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ’Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do? ’He answered, ’Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ’Feed my lambs.’
’Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ This questioning Jesus has towards Peter also finds an echo within ourselves. Like us, Peter suffered from his weakness when he denied Jesus! But Jesus raises him up. God’s “work” is one of a constant bringing to birth. Humanity tries to move forward using its own strength, very often it fails before reaching its goal, understanding nothing at all! With the Passion and Resurrection, Jesus brings new hope.
Lord! You know quite well that I am your friend!
Jesus is the Word of God, the Only son, the gift God makes to the world because of His great Love for humanity.
Like all the other disciples Peter is invited to believe in Jesus, to commend his life to Him ;which is what he expresses following the speech on the Brea of Life :
’To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal Life.’
It is in the poverty of our own lives that we recognise Jesus in his lowliness, in his humiliation, there where he comes to save us.The birth of the Church came about through the Cross of Jesus and at his Resurrection. Nothing less was needed than the victory of his Love over suffering and death so that a new love could take shape within us.
’Jesus said for the third time : ’Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, ’Do you love me?’ and said ’Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ’Feed my sheep.’
Peter confesses his love for Jesus, Son of God, and he sees himself commending the sheep that belong to the Risen Lord’s flock. Jesus delegates a pastoral power to peter who will have to exert in humility and in a spirit of service as his Shepherd did so.
Peter is given a double role of guardian : to keep and confirm his brothers in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, and to keep the community of disciples in fraternal love.
When we think all is well, we can imagine that God is here. But if trials come along, well that’s the end of our illusions and we lose hope! This is the moment God works, for gold is purified in a purifying fire.
We always have this ’lack’ in our lives when we forget the Source of Love.
We need to contemplate Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection.
We need to enter into this new Love, that conquers all suffering, all forms of death. Love conquering suffering is the same that conquers death, death is overcome in God’s Infinite Love.
’In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt around you and take you where you would rather not go.In these words he indicated the kind of death by which peter would give glory to God.’
We receive the Infinite Love of God through the Holy Spirit given to us. We no longer have any illusions about ourselves for we are unable to reach God’s Kingdom by ourselves. We are still in the combat between life and death, only Christ’s death gives us the life that will never die. The flames of the fire of the Holy Spirit come down on the Apostles there in front of humanity seeking for life, it is they who from now on will ’take’ the place of Jesus.It is from Jesus that will come the discernment of Light and darkness in the world where some will say that Jesus is dead whereas others will say He is Risen. It is to each one of us that Jesus says ’Do you love me?’ for the condition of any form of service and y
ministry in the Church is this tender and merciful Love that comes from Jesus who says to us : ’Come follow me.’ He gives us the Holy Spirit who works within the Church at Pentecost.