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

The Word of the Lord

Today’s Gospel Text: While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes'aret. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, 7 they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11

Reflection: The letter to the Hebrews defines faith thus; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Heb 11:1

Maybe modern fishing methods, with sophisticated trawlers, equipped with modern gadgets and GPRS have changed the way they fish but the primitive fishing business, still practiced in most parts of the world, is like working with the same mystery as faith. You do not see what you are about to receive and yet you step out in faith.  

You drop your nets in the water and may either get a great catch or in extreme situations absolutely nothing. It is in faith that the net is dropped into the water, sometimes taking into consideration the favorable factors and yet a fisherman may catch nothing at all.

The only thing that the fisherman knows is that there maybe seasons when he will, with all the trying will get his rich haul of fish.

Here in the gospel faith meets superior faith, faith in the fishing nets to faith in the Word of the master: “"Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." Vs. 5

To trust in the Lord’s word is like looking at the blank waters and casting your net and lo and behold, there is a great catch.

But do not forget to wait and wait for his word!

Prayer: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Ps 130:5-6

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