April 13, 2013
THIRD WEEK OF EASTER
John 21, 1-19
Meme courtesy of Magnilay Tayo |
The apparition of Jesus in today's Gospel passage is the
last to be told in John's account. It happened just while the apostles are
fishing along the sea of Tiberias, trying to go back to their lives after
Jesus' death and resurrection. For some of them, it is an encounter of joy for
they saw Jesus again, but for Peter it
is an encounter full of memories and destiny.
DOMINUS EST!
John recognizes the one who commanded them to cast the net
on the right side of the boat, catching a great number of fish. Full of joy,
John said to Peter, It is the Lord! It is He who cured the sick, drove
away demons, raised Lazarus to life, and fed thousands during his ministry. It
is he who was condemned by the authorities, yet raised to life and now lives
forever and ever.
Upon hearing this, Simon Peter jumped into the sea, and swam
towards Jesus. Overjoyed, he waited on the Lord during that glorious morning
which would change his life forever. He had the best conversation of his life,
one which would shape his destiny as head of the Church which Jesus founded.
Do you love me?
Jesus asked Peter thrice if he loves Him. It may be a simple
question repeated three times, which could be answered by anyone, but for
Peter, it opened a part of his painful past. It reminded him of that morning
when his Lord was beaten and questioned by the authorities, the morning when he
denied Jesus thrice before the cock crowed. Hindi naman sa nakulitan,
but it really made Peter a little sad. For him to be questioned by his Master,
it's like saying to him, akala mo nakalimutan ko?
At that decisive moment, Peter answered, Yes, Lord! You
know all things; You know that I love You. Peter knew that what was done was done, yet
there will still be a chance to seek forgiveness and be united again. With his
answer, it's like saying, Opo, alam kong di ninyo nalilimutan, ngunit alam
kong pinatawad na ninyo ako.
Jesus replied, Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my
sheep. With this reply, Jesus turned Peter, from the fisherman to the
Shepherd of His flock. He gave him the leadership of the Church which he
founded upon the rock. Even if it takes his life, Peter would proceed and lead
the Universal Church through its initial days. The memory of the denial was
vanished; it was replaced by the glorious task of leading the faithful towards
believing in God and in Jesus.
Come, follow me!
We are all like Peter. We try to live our own lives,
yet God calls us for something more. We draw closer to Jesus, especially when
we have problems and we know that He is there by the shore, waiting for us. We
all denied Jesus in our sins and failures, yet he asks us all the more, Do
you love me? We are tasked to love and take care of each other, as
Jesus does for all of us.
The Lord asks us, Do you love me? How do we
respond? Do we keep on running away? Do we try to hide ourselves? Do we say
YES without even thinking what it means?
Do we offer our lives for Him and for the people saved by his blood?
Jesus waits by the shore. He asks us, Do you love Me? What
will be our answer?