Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 29, 2020
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?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
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.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt 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. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”
He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God. After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
At the last supper, Jesus told Peter that before the cock crowed, Peter would deny him 3 times. In today’s gospel, Jesus asks Peter 3 times, once for each denial, “Do you love me?” When I think about today’s gospel story, I can’t help but put myself in Peter’s place. I can imagine the mixed feelings that Peter must have felt–the joy of Jesus’ return from the dead mixed with the shame of knowing he let Jesus down in his time of need. How and how often have I denied Jesus? Did I get so caught up with my work and daily grind that I try to do it all myself, forgetting that Jesus was there? Did I not offer my witness of Jesus in my life to those around me out of fear or embarrassment? When I answer “yes” to such questions, I’m ashamed to have let Jesus down.
But what is Jesus’ approach? He doesn’t focus on the denials, looking for an apology or to punish. He has already forgiven Peter. Rather, he makes this a new beginning, and asks Peter (and us) a simple question: “Do you love me?” While of course Jesus already knows the answer, he needs to hear Peter say it. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” A declaration that reaffirms his love for Jesus, his trust in their relationship, and his readiness to move forward. The same sort of affirmation we all need to give to and receive from those in our lives who are special to us–our spouse, our parents, our children, our friends.
Each time Peter answers, Jesus responds by entrusting Peter with a new, and higher responsibility. With our affirmation of love, Jesus responds to us with a calling to serve his people. His people are not the mighty in this world, but the lowly, the simple, and powerless—the lambs and the sheep. May we turn away from our denials and re-affirm our love for Jesus and his people that we may embrace his call to serve those he puts in our paths.
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.
Saint of the Day
Blessed Joseph Gérard was a French priest and missionary.
Joseph was born in northern France in 1831, the eldest of five children. His parents, Jean and Ursule, ran a farm, and he helped them run it throughout his childhood. Joseph received religious instruction from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, an order of priests that had originated in France. He joined the order in May of 1851, just after his twentieth birthday.
He was sent to South Africa to complete his theological training in 1853 and was assigned a pastoral placement there after diaconate ordination. Joseph never again returned to France.
Joseph was very skilled at learning languages and quickly picked up the native Zulu and Sesotho tongues. Joseph was ordained in 1854 and began work among the Zulu people. In 1862, a local bishop asked Joseph to join in his mission in Lesotho, the landlocked country within South Africa. Joseph worked with the Basotho King to establish the first Catholic mission with the royal cooperation.
Joseph worked to bring the Gospel to and minister to the Basotho people until he died in 1914. Pope John Paul II beatified Joseph in 1988, on his papal visit to Lesotho. Joseph is one of the patron intercessors for missionaries.
Blessed Joseph Gérard, loving missionary for Christ's Gospel—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of Bl. Joseph Gérard is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed February 13, 2025.