FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD
Friday May 26, 2023
WORD of the DAY
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.” (John 21: 15-19)
How shall I live this Word? 
The passage from today’s liturgy is the continuation of chapter 21 of John in which, after the meal where Jesus makes Himself recognized again in the gesture of handing over and sharing, the personal encounter with Peter is narrated.
This meeting is marked by three questions on love that seem to allude to those three times Peter denied Jesus. It is a journey of healing. Jesus is not interested in the explanation or the reasons for denying Him and, at the same time, He does not trivialize what happened. Jesus starts afresh from Love: lowering Himself to his level, therefore loving him first. He asks Peter how much he is willing to stake in that relationship, at the same time giving renewed trust, handing over to him the flock, the lambs, and the sheep, as if to say: alright Peter, even if today you can only love me, I still trust you! It is the beginning of a new journey! “Follow me.”
Jesus asks him again to follow Him, but this time Peter’s answer is no longer based on his strength alone or on his willpower: following is now a handing over. The reason why he can follow Jesus lies in feeling forgiven and letting himself be guided by Him. Peter experienced a look of mercy upon himself; now he lives by this look.
Lord, make us attentive in listening to Your Word which repeats to us every day, Follow Me.
The voice of Pope Francis, Homily, Sts. Peter and Paul 2014
Jesus asks us the same question today, “Do you love Me?” He does this precisely because He knows our fatigue and our fears. Peter shows us the way. Trust Him who knows everything about us. Let us not rely on our ability to remain faithful but rather on His constant fidelity.
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E-mail: srmterzo@gmail.com Website: www.sanbiagio.org info@sanbiagio.org Blog: livingscripture.wordpress.com Comment: Sr. Vilma Colombo, FMA
