Gospel JN 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:
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Many gospel writers offer the opinion that Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” three times because Peter denied knowing Jesus three times after His arrest in the garden.
That may well be true. Yet, I have no doubt that Jesus knew Peter loved Him even before He asked him the question.
Each time Peter replied that he loved Jesus, our Lord told him to take care of His sheep.
In other words, Jesus is saying the proof of your love for me is confirmed when you love and serve my people.
Peter’s denial of Jesus was caused by being fearful for his own well being.
Peter’s faithfulness in serving God’s people was only possible because of his love of God and his fellow man.
I believe Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times not so much to assure Himself of Peter’s love, but to remind Peter of his love for Him.
For it is love of God that allows us to resist temptation. It is love of God that allows us to stay the course in serving others. It is love of God that causes us to yearn to be with Him for eternity.
Prior to his own crucifixion, Peter would face many trials and fears while leading the fledging Christian church.
Love of God is what fueled Peter’s faith and enabled him to overcome his fear.
Every time we tell God that we love Him, it becomes more difficult to deny Him, in word or deed.

“Sometimes God lets you hit rock bottom so you will discover that He is the rock at the bottom.” – – – Unknown