Tuesday after Misericordias Domini
Posted on May 3, 2022 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
The Peter who had sworn undying allegiance to his Lord was also the same disciple who denied his Lord three times. Jesus had now risen, and the time had come to confront Peter, as well as restore him. Jesus questions Peter three times in succession, paralleling the three denials. Pointedly, He addresses Peter as “Simon, son of Jonah,” rather than “Peter, the rock.” We also see an interesting word choice in Jesus’ first question, “…do you love Me more than these?” Jesus uses the Greek word for love, agapas. It is the same word He uses in John 3:16, highlighting the unlimited bounds of God’s love. Peter’s response is honest and truthful: “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Two things stand out. First, Peter confesses that God knows what is truly in Peter’s heart. Second, the word for “love” Peter uses in his response is not agape, but rather philo–the love of a trusted friend. Thus, Peter is admitting his love has not, and never will measure up to God’s standard, hard as he may try.
Of course, this is also true of us. God calls us to love Him and our neighbor with unconditional love–a love we are to strive for, but unfortunately can never achieve. That is why we pray that God continues to work in us, that we may love Him and our neighbor with a Christ-like love, and to forgive us for the many times we fall short.
Prayer: 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.
