May 16 2024 5 mins
Friday 7th week of Easter "Jn 21:15-19"
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." A second time he said to him, "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 grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Before His Ascension, Jesus had to prepare St Peter for the task that God had prepared for him. Peter denied Jesus three times on Good Friday so Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him. Peter wasn't perfect. It is clear when we read the Gospels. But his love for Jesus was sincere and intense. "All you need is love," says the famous Beatles' song. That's all Peter needed to start again and change the course of history. God doesn't need perfect instruments. He needs people who know how to love and follow Him, who begin and begin again, without giving up, for love. A saint is a sinner who keeps trying. Saints are in Heaven not because they didn't fall, but because they always picked themselves up. Michael Jordan, probably the best basketball player of all times, said once, "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed..." - because he didn't give up. St Peter fell but didn't remain down. He loved Jesus, trusted Him, and empowered by God's strength, Peter began again. "When Christ at a symbolic moment was establishing His great society, He chose for its cornerstone neither the brilliant Paul nor the mystic John, but a shuffler, a snob, a coward – in a word, a man. All the empires and the kingdoms have failed because they were founded by strong men and upon strong men. But the historic Christian Church was founded on a weak man, and for that reason it is indestructible" (G K Chesterton). Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for the Pope and for all Christians.
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." A second time he said to him, "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 grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Before His Ascension, Jesus had to prepare St Peter for the task that God had prepared for him. Peter denied Jesus three times on Good Friday so Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him. Peter wasn't perfect. It is clear when we read the Gospels. But his love for Jesus was sincere and intense. "All you need is love," says the famous Beatles' song. That's all Peter needed to start again and change the course of history. God doesn't need perfect instruments. He needs people who know how to love and follow Him, who begin and begin again, without giving up, for love. A saint is a sinner who keeps trying. Saints are in Heaven not because they didn't fall, but because they always picked themselves up. Michael Jordan, probably the best basketball player of all times, said once, "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed..." - because he didn't give up. St Peter fell but didn't remain down. He loved Jesus, trusted Him, and empowered by God's strength, Peter began again. "When Christ at a symbolic moment was establishing His great society, He chose for its cornerstone neither the brilliant Paul nor the mystic John, but a shuffler, a snob, a coward – in a word, a man. All the empires and the kingdoms have failed because they were founded by strong men and upon strong men. But the historic Christian Church was founded on a weak man, and for that reason it is indestructible" (G K Chesterton). Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for the Pope and for all Christians.