Tuesday after Misericordias Domini Sunday
Posted on April 16, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. John 21:15-19 (NKJV)
21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Devotion
In spite of Peter’s self-assured declaration that “I will lay down my life for Your sake,” he fell to sin as our Lord warned him: “Jesus answered him, ‘Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.’” (John 13:37-38).
But the Lord called on Peter to affirm his faith in humble repentance three times. Christ Jesus also declared that Peter was clearly charged with the Apostolic Ministry as He said, “Feed My lambs … Tend My sheep … Feed My sheep … Follow Me.” In spite of Peter’s sins, our Lord used Him to shepherd His flock. Peter was not a hireling, but a man who had fallen in his sins and was restored by God’s correction and mercy. The other false shepherds of the Jews remained in their rejection of the Christ, in their blasphemy, and in their self-will. They continued to be robbers and enemies of the Lord’s flock.
We must continue to speak as our Lord teaches us in His Word. Correction is for our help and blessing; it brings us to greener pastures. We are not perfect little lambs on our own. We are sinners who need the Good Shepherd and His servants to help us abide where His gracious kingdom is found, in His faithful Church.
Collect: God, Who, by the humiliation of Thy Son, didst raise up the fallen world: Grant unto Thy faithful ones perpetual gladness, and those whom Thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death, do Thou make partakers of eternal joys; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
