“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Soon we will solemnly remember Pentecost, an event that was of great importance for the nascent Church and for the taking of a great mission of evangelizing all nations. This is surely why the Church today resembles another very important event which also constitutes the Church; and that is the re-calling of Peter as head of the nascent Church. And this vocation - on the basis of love!
Jesus rebuilds trust
The scenery of Jesus' conversation with Peter is full of charm. The sun rises over Lake Tiberias, the fire lit by the Risen Jesus himself is still burning. Apostles experience a joyful shock: behold, the Master is with them again; thanks to him they had a good catch. They probably feared a little that the Master could rebuke them, because he asked them not to leave Jerusalem. They had gone fishing anyway (quite far from Jerusalem). But everything is going for the best: although they did not catch anything themselves all night, they ate a tasty "Easter breakfast". Jesus put a few fish on the fire, and the rest they brought, in abundance, from a particularly successful catch. But that's not all. The great history of salvation related to the Passover - the Passage of the Son of God through the earth will continue. It will span many centuries and billions of people in many generations. The Risen Lord Himself, miraculous and ordinary, appears once again to guide the course of important events. Step by step, he creates the conditions for the great mission of the Church, which will last until the end of the world.
The Risen Lord - even before He, together with the Father, sends the Holy Spirit - himself will rebuild the bonds of trust which was weakened on the day of His Crucifixion. As is known, almost all disciples on that day failed; they succumbed to a terrible fear for their lives. Moreover, they felt deeply disappointed at the Master's defeat.
True, it was a disaster of a special kind; that it was, in fact, apart from the force of human sins and hatred of the Evil One, also the time of the triumph of Divine Mercy and the apex revelation of God's Love for man. But despite everything, the disciples felt hurt by what had happened; they were confused. They did not know how their fate would turn out. Into their uncertainty entered the Risen Jesus. His actions were manifold: he comforted them, restored hope, aroused joy, filled them with power; above all, however, he was rebuilding mutual trust and a bond of love.
- Jesus first regained a trusting relationship for the whole community of the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room (cf. Jn 20: 19-23; Lk 24: 36-49). Then, very individually, though within the apostolic community, he did the same with regard to Thomas; he restored his ability to believe and trust. In a quite unique way, Jesus rebuilt a relationship of complete trust and love with Peter.
- We can hope that Jesus will include us in a cordial and intimate community of love with his person, despite all our life's mistakes, sins, fears and disbeliefs.
A called sinner
It is obvious that Jesus' dialogue with Peter evoked various memories in him. He remembered the first time Jesus called him. It happened under similar circumstances as "now": same Lake, similar sequence of events when it comes to catching fish. First the catch was fruitless, and then it was plentiful (Luke 5: 1-11).
- Then Peter felt terrified, seeing the power and holiness of Jesus, as well as the fact that he (Peter) was included, without his own will and initiative, in God's great plans for the world realized by Jesus the Messiah. It was very difficult for Peter to bear the collision of his own littleness and sinfulness with his choice to be an instrument in God's hand.
Now, after several years of being with Jesus, it is similar: Jesus calls him once more to follow Him. Much has changed in Peter, but weakness and sinfulness remained. Jesus, however, talks to Peter and invites him to commit himself definitively to the great cause of the Church and to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
Now Jesus re-elects Peter, and Peter re-elects Jesus. Peter makes a choice much more consciously and more maturely. Peter knows Jesus better and knows himself better. He knows what he can do (how to fail), yet he is ready to accept the consequences of Jesus' choice.
Questions about love
Jesus' first question about love was: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” - Peter remembers how he once assured the Master: Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be. Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you. (Mt. 26, 33.35). This time, Peter does not make the same mistake of comparing himself to others, to put himself higher and, in general, to be overconfident.
- Peter's answer is heartfelt and humble: Yes, Lord, you know that I love You. Peter assures Jesus of his love but gives up all comparisons; rather, he humbly asks Jesus to look into his heart and see what his love is. Jesus' questions about love were several, exactly three; the same number of times Peter denied the Master. Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter understood what Jesus had in mind when he asked him for love - the second and third times. Jesus did not want to humiliate Peter - in the sense of humiliating him. Rather, it gave him a chance for full rehabilitation. He also wanted to teach Peter and us that there is no fall from which we cannot rise and re-enter the circle of the intimate friendship and love of Jesus.
A difficult and wonderful lesson
Peter, who was to lead the Church community, learned one of the most difficult and wonderful lessons: he learned the bitter taste of a serious fall; he also learned the sweet taste of Jesus' love! He has personally experienced how faithful, gentle, and powerful the Savior's love is. His fall created (in a way) an opportunity for Peter to cling to Jesus even more, as tightly as possible; perhaps more than the spotless and subtle John the Evangelist.
- Every Peter, every successor of St. Peter, will look at the many weaknesses and sins in the Church. He will have to strengthen his brothers in faith and in love, even when they fall, when they are shaken very hard. In Peter's charism of all times, there is an ability to reconcile with Jesus those who (even shamefully) have denied Him.
Task - mission
The dialogue rebuilding trust and love ends - three times, after each question and answer - by entrusting Peter with the task: Feed my sheep. Peter is to be a shepherd and be like Jesus. He is to be a true shepherd (cf. Jn 10), and therefore one who will not flee in an emergency, but rather, if necessary, lay down his life for the sheep; the climax of being a good shepherd is martyrdom. Jesus delicately foretells Peter that he is going to be martyred: 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. Indeed, a day will come when Peter in Rome will lay down his life for his Lord. Also on the cross, like Jesus, but head down as tradition says.
True love brings with it wonderful experiences; it is a great good and does good, but in this world it is also associated with dedication and with sacrifice. There is a seriousness in the dialogue of love between Jesus and Peter. The prospect of faithful and difficult service opens up. - We, too, should be ready to accept the burden assigned to us when we follow Jesus. We must be ready to take upon ourselves “our cross" which (in the end) is some tiny part of the Savior's great cross. However, His Cross, our crosses - have salvific value, serve the great Cause of salvation. They are glorious.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george