Love More Than

Today’s Gospel Text:   When they 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." 16 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." 17 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." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." John 21:15-19

Reflection: The many actions of Peter does not seem to put Peter in the category of the wise nor does his background as a fisherman’s son makes him any qualified for a position in the church of God.

                                      

Who will appoint a Pope or bishop or priest by virtue of them being a mere fisherman, even uneducated and impulsive in one’s ways and thinking?

But God’s ways are different, when he chooses and the same can be said of Simon Peter:

“God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong,  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Cor 1:27-29

What then seems to be the Lord’s criteria for appointing Peter from among the twelve and then to head the ministry of heading the Lord’s disciples.

From the beginning Peter appears to be a sincere man, who seems to respond to the Lord’s action with great sincerity of heart.  In the process, as he had no inhibitions he was the most spontaneous among the dedicated disciples of Jesus.

What is more he was open to the spirit world and spoke his mind out freely and openly. Hence in the process he is rebuked for his being open to being Satan’s instrument and appreciated for being God’s voice in acknowledging Jesus as the Lord and messiah.

Beneath the external boldness was hidden a timid Peter who even goes to the extent of denying Jesus.

In the end what conquers is love; his great love for Jesus!

Jesus rightly asks him: "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" (vs. 15)

It is not just in following the Lord or being a good Christian is enough to take on the responsibility of taking care of the sheep as shepherds. What is required is a deep love for Jesus, which should exceed the love that others together may have for him.

Prayer:  Yes, Lord; you know that I love you, supply to my poor heart what is lacking in my love of you.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Do you Fast?

Today’s Gospel Text:  Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 And no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved." Matt 9:14-17

Reflection:  Can someone approach a family and tell the children: “Why do we and your parents work to earn and you do not work nor labor in order to earn?”

I am sure no one would do that with small children, you cannot really tell that to a small child.

What happens to a grown up child of 18 or more and if they are not working? Can one approach and make a similar statement and ask them why they are not working in order to earn a living?

Wait a minute, who are we to do that if the parents have no objection to their children not working. 

Jesus in the Gospel communicates a similar attitude, not to burden God's children with the demands of the law, but allow the disciple the freedom, whether to fast or not.

He, by talking about a bridegroom communicates a very important message on fasting and penance, which though based on freedom of choice, could be an invitation to participate more vigorously then the law could demand of anyone.

Christian history has enough proof of the rigor with which the saints, not just the canonized ones but the non-canonized ones too, fasted for the sake of Christ.

How is that possible? It is possible if our relationship with Christ is like that of the Bride with the bridegroom.  As long as the bridegroom is there the bride is happy but the moment the Bridegroom is taken away, it is as if all happiness is robbed from the bride and she is willing to make any sacrifice, if within her means to return to her Bridegroom.  It is the deep longing for the bridegroom that does the miracle!

For the dedicated disciples, being with Jesus was a moment to grow in love and attachment to Jesus the bridegroom, but when Jesus the bridegroom would be taken away, suddenly and more so violently from them, they will definitely miss those great moments spent with the Lord and will fast and pray in order to grow in that closeness which was with them before and without which they cannot be noble instruments of God.

Similarly, the indwelling Holy Spirit and our constant encounter with him creates in our hearts the eager longing of that of a bride for the bridegroom and we are with a little effort from our side, able to seek that union with him through fasting, penance and prayer.

Prayer:  Lord, may we never lose sight of your calling and seek you with all our heart, soul strength and mind, even if this means fasting to seek your face.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Love Jesus - Part II

Scripture/Bible: Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" 23 The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:20-25

Reflection: (Read yesterday’s reflection to understand the full meaning of today’s reflection.)   "Lord, what about this man?" Why did Peter ask the Lord this question concerning John the beloved Apostle? Is it because he felt that John met the important criteria of love so as to qualify and deserve an important posting in the Lord’s work and mission?

Seems to be true; for was John not a beloved disciple whom Jesus loved and who lay close to his breast at the most crucial moment in Jesus life. What is more, was he not the one who showed much concern for his neighbor when he made it a point to ask; "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"

Yes, this disciple was the only one who seemed to have died a natural death at Ephesus. He is the one whom the Lord entrusted to his Mother and who took Mary home with him.  The greatest treasure that John could have was the mother of his master to care of.  This privilege he has enjoyed primarily on account of his being the beloved of Jesus, who loved the Lord much and even follows him, like Mary, to the cross.

It is to this John that one attributes the 4^th Gospel, the three epistles and the book of Revelations.  

From John’s writings about the life of Jesus we have an extraordinary insight into the life of Christ, which none of the other evangelist have produced.  From him we learn in a special way that Jesus is the eternal word of God who was always with the Father.  

John brings out the most beautiful insights into the role and life of Mary and her role in the church. I am confident that this insights have been greatly nourished by Mary's presence in his life.

Take Mary home with you as John did and you will never regret, as you will be still a great instrument of the Lord as John was. His proclamation of the Gospel still continues to make a great impact on the lives of the millions.

Prayer:  Lord that I may know you and your love for me and thus respond to you with undying fidelity.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Love Jesus - Part I

Scripture/Bible:  When they 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." 16 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." 17 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." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." John 21:15-19

Reflection: In the scripture text of today we see Jesus getting down to preparing these disciples after a good breakfast and what better way than beginning with Simon Peter, the one who was to lead the community of faith.

When we want a change in our local community we normally want to start with the sacrifice of the poor, vulnerable and the innocents. Burn them at the stake, beat them, stretch them and bend them.

When Jesus after having himself gone through it all with victory over the cross of sin and shame, teaches Simon Peter and all generations of leaders, the secret of true leadership; “do you love me more than these?"  And if yes, then; "Feed my lambs."

This call is also in consonance with the two great commandments he taught us: Love God and love of neighbor. (Mt. 12: 28-31, 22:36-40, Mk. 12: 28-31, Lk. 10: 25-27)

In the process Jesus is clearly spelling out his agenda for the kingdom; what it means to love one’s neighbor and how to primarily do it? By feeding them with the word of God and the truth of the gospel but first love God as revealed in Jesus. 

Jesus revealed God’ love in his human body to perfection and the cross is the visible sign of that perfect love.  

The latter commandment is in no way greater than the first. Here in this action of Jesus it is clarified and made clear that the love of God as revealed in Christ Jesus is primary, necessary and of all relevance in order for one to be an instrument of love towards one’s neighbor.   

In this process one may begin with friendship love or the limited human love but it has to grow in that depth of self-sacrificing love which is made possible only in loving Jesus, because he is the perfect mirror of this love.  

Only Jesus accepts our imperfect love and sacrifice and makes it perfect with his wisdom and grace at work in us, at various stages, just the way he did it with Simon Peter at once in the three stages of questioning.

Prayer: "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (vs.17) Help me abide in your love (cfr. Jn. 15: 9-10)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us