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Reflection on John 21:15-19 ~
To love as St. Peter is a challenge, especially knowing in scriptural hindsight that Peter suffers in the end. All this energy Peter put into loving God, serving others with mind, body, and soul, then effectively treated as an enemy by the rulers; how could this have been worth it? The truth of Christianity is that as a witness to Glory, we do and be like Peter and share the Cross despite the significant challenges. We may have to accept unique sacrificial belts that call out to us to go beyond where we may want to go in our journey. However, if we do so, we have committed to Jesus’s “Follow Me.”
Saint Peter by James Tissot (full resolution) and for more detail at the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Eastertide Reflections
John 21:15-19 – Scripture (NRSV Bible)
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus 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.” 16 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.” 17 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. 18 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.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this daily Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina John 21:15-19 Reflection – Follow Me.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections of the Gospel readings or other contemplative material to this Web-based ministry? Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission from New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) to use the John 21 Bible passage.
This site follows the guidelines for image web use at the websites of the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum.