Easter Question: "Do you love me?"
Listening to the Spirit
ACT OF LOVE
O my God, I love you above all things,
with my whole heart and soul,
because you are all-good and worthy of all love.
I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you.
I forgive all who have injured me,
and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Listening to the Word
At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Young men, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore (only about a hundred yards), dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a 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. Amen, amen, I say to you, 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.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
Reflection
Do you love me? In the movie Fiddler on the Roof Tevye asked his wife Golde this famous question. Golde answered him “For 25 years, I washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned your house, given you children, milked your cow, after 25 years why talked about love right now?” And Tevye insisted, “Do you love me?” Golde answered back “I am your wife”. Tevye answered, “I Know! But do you love me?” Finally, Golde answered back by asking herself first, “Do I love him? For 25 years I lived with him, fought with him, starved with him, 25 years my bed is his if that’s not love, what is?” Happily, Tevye answered back “then you love me”. Golde replied, “I suppose I do”.
In this Third Sunday of Easter, Jesus asked Peter three times: “Do you love me?” This moment reminds us that our God is a God of the second chance. After Peter failed now he is giving him a chance to prove his worth. Many biblical scholars believed the three times symbolize the three moments Peter betrayed Jesus in the night of his arrest. His three betrayals were replaced by his three affirmations of love. “Yes Lord, I love you”.
We can relate to the questions Jesus told to Peter. To the married people they too can ask the same question of Tevye (Do you love me?) to his wife Golde (If that’s not love, what is?) because they experience many times to love and be loved. This question can be a perfect Easter question to each one of us. After how many years in married life, in priestly life, in religious life, do I love Jesus? Do I still love him? Am I still willing to be involved in the works and mission of Jesus?
This Easter question can be asked also to the young people especially that here in the Philippines this year is attributed to the Youth. Young people, do you love me? Are you generous enough to offer your lives and to be my feet, mouth, and hands to another country? Are you willing to follow me (Jesus) even to the point of offering your lives?
Jesus asked Peter the Easter question first before he will invite Peter to feed his lamb, tend his sheep and feed his sheep. Peter is called first to commit his love to Jesus. Feed my lamb means to take care of the vulnerable people in our society. Tend my sheep means to guide people especially the youth for them not to go astray. Feed my lamb asked us to take care of the elderly. Let us remember this, before Peter will feed the lamb Jesus asked him to love first. We too need to do the same. Love first and then act. Love first and then serve. Love first and then proclaim. Quoting St. Teresa of Avila, “To give our Lord perfect hospitality, Martha and Mary must combine”. The love of God is the foundation of all apostolic works. The love of God is the reason for all our service.
After he commanded Peter to feed his sheep Jesus told him, “Follow me”. We can see a pattern in following Jesus. First, the call to love; second the call to service; third the call to follow Jesus. Peter was reminded by Jesus that he will only be able to tend the flock if he will follow Jesus. He needs to fix his eyes on Jesus.
“Do you love me?”---- “I suppose I do, Lord”
Reflection Questions
Gospel Reflections
Allowing Jesus to Change Us
Who Is Jesus for Me? From Encounter to Mission
