Simon, Do You Love Me?

Friday 29^th May 2020. 

Read Acts 25:13-21, Psalm 103 and John 21:15-19.

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’... ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ … ‘Feed my lambs.’ … ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ … ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ … ‘Tend my sheep.’ … ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ …’Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ …. ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:15-17)

Very often, you hear people say: “Love is blind.” The meaning of this is that when we are in love, we become blind to the limitations of the other person or better put, we are able to bear with whatever pain or suffering the person brings to us.

Love is like the energy that keeps us going. When you love what you do, you do not see it as work anymore; you just apply yourself to it. This is the reason Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times?

If Peter was going to succeed in shepherding the flock entrusted to his care, it was very important that Jesus remains the only of his life. For all those times, Peter would have to suffer for the sake of the faith, he would think back and remember how he said “yes” to Jesus’ question.

Jesus even went as far as predicting the kind of death Peter would die; how he would stretch his hands while others will tie his belt and take him where he does not wish to go. Love takes no record of wrongs; love never ends; love never gives up.

Put yourself in the shoes of Peter and ask: “Do I love God? How deep is my love for God? To what extent am I willing to suffer for God’s sake?” Very often, we assume we love God but the truth is that it is those things we stand to gain from God that we love. This is why we easily turn away from God when those things are not forthcoming.

In truth, if we don’t love God, we are only pretending to be Christians; trying to use God instead of worshipping Him. As Jesus would say: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

Our first reading today contains one episode of the account of Paul’s travails for the sake of spreading the Gospel. In truth, the only thing that kept Paul going was his ever-burning love for God.

Let us pray: Come Holy Spirit and enkindle in us your Sacred Fire. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 7th Week of Easter. Bible Study: Acts 25:13-21, Psalm 103 and John 21:15-19).