THE WORD
Ac 25,13-21 / Jn 21,15-19
When [Jesus and the disciples] had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
He said to 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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
Today’s gospel reading reminds me of our ordination (13 ordinati)) to the priesthood (Magnicat ’77).The day before our presbyteral ordination (July 2, 1977), we had our recollection with Fr. Manfred Mueller, SVD. Fr. Manfred used this gospel passage as material for our reflection. He emphasized the threefold question of Jesus to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Of course many would easily say that this threefold question of Jesus to Peter corresponds to the three times Peter denied association with Jesus.
Yes, definitely Jesus wants our love for him more than anything else. To the extent that we love Jesus, he is willing to entrust to us his mission. Thus, it is a wrong question to ask oneself: “Am I worthy of his call?” St. Paul the Apostle would say, “All is gift!” And for me, God’s call, Jesus’ call is a gift. Jesus’ call is a pure gift to those who love him and are willing to be his ambassadors to the whole world. For our part, we strive to love Jesus with our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole strength and our whole mind so that we can continue ‘to feed his sheep’.
- Fr. Antonio O. Pegon, SVD | Tagaytay City
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
