Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 17, 2024
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he 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.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he 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, he said to him, “Follow me.”
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” As a hospital chaplain, I’ve often heard people ask, “Does God love me?” It breaks my heart each time and makes me wonder what could possibly give assurance in times of distress when all seems uncertain.
Then I think of my grandma and summers sitting outside drinking coffee. One time, she had an epiphany: “Hey! Can you imagine if Castro never took over, and I was never forced to leave my country?” I smiled, waiting for the punchline. “We would be sitting together right now, hearing the ocean waves. And you would call me ‘Abuela’ instead of ‘Grandma.’ How wonderful would that be?!”
I couldn’t help but laugh, “That would be wonderful, but I wouldn’t have been born. Fate would have you sitting with someone else.” Her face turned indignant, distressed that I could suggest such a thing. I tried to assure her, “That’s okay, Grandma. It’s okay that life could have turned out differently, no?” But she was hurt at the thought. “No!” she demanded. “Oye, no matter what, you would be with me.” It was then I realized how much my grandmother loved me. To imagine a world without us together was unacceptable. “You’re right, Grandma. I love you.”
Like Jesus’ interaction with Peter, such conversations invite an expanded vision of love and a strengthening of the relationship. I believe they also signify the presence of the Holy Spirit giving strength and assurance during difficult times. They remind us we are loved and invite us to renew our love for one another.
Prayer
Like Peter, dear Jesus, you are calling us to let go of our protestations of loyalty, of our “I can do it” confidence. May it become inescapably clear to us that we can’t really do anything without your help, that we must serve others with the full, painful awareness of our own incapacity. The strength we will need comes only from you. Above all, help us to realize that all those we shepherd, care for, mentor, and guide are your flock, not ours. Amen.