"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Peter replies, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you."
Jesus responds, "Feed my lambs."
This
exchange repeats three times, echoing the three times Peter denied Jesus after
His arrest. At first glance, Jesus is gently guiding Peter toward
reconciliation, offering him a chance to reaffirm his love and loyalty. Peter’s
final response—"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love
you"—is raw and honest. And Jesus, in turn, says, "Feed my
sheep."
In that
moment, Peter must have realized something profound: Jesus had forgiven him.
Not only that—He was entrusting Peter with a mission. Despite Peter’s failings,
Jesus was elevating him, reaffirming his role as the rock upon which the Church
would be built. It’s a powerful testament to the transformative power of love
and grace in our relationships.
Whenever I
hear the phrase “Do you love me?”, my mind drifts to Tevye in Fiddler
on the Roof. In a tender scene, Tevye asks his wife, Golde, if she loves him. Her response—"I suppose I do"—is understated but deeply
meaningful. Tevye replies, "After 25 years, it’s nice to know!"
Sometimes, love needs to be spoken aloud, even when it’s already known.
In my own
life, I’m blessed. My wife and I don’t need to ask, “Do you love me?”—we
already know the answer. That unspoken assurance has been a steady foundation
since we met in 1983. Still, hearing it aloud, as Jesus asked of Peter, brings
comfort and strength. It reminds us that love, when expressed, can help us
navigate life’s challenges with grace.
While I may not be feeding sheep, we are feeding grandbabies—nurturing them, loving them, and helping guide them into a relationship with our Lord. And that, too, is a sacred calling.
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