Do You Love Me? ... Follow Me

A touching scene

The disciple who denied three times that he knew Jesus

is asked three times if he loves him.

Peter is hurt by the question

but he replies three times: ‘… you know that I love you.’

Jesus’ question: ἀγαπᾶσ με ‘do you love me’ whole-heartedly, selflessly

Peter’s answer: φιλῶ σε ‘I love you.’ (like a brother, I care for you.)

He humbly gives the most honest answer he can.

At the Last Supper Peter was full of bluster:

“Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” John 13:37

2011. New American Bible. Revised Edition. Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

We know how that turned out:

only hours later, he falters in the face of a threatening situation

followed soon after by sorrow, shame and contrition.

In today’s gospel

A humbler, more honest Peter says: “You know that I love you.”

The good news?

Jesus just accepts Peter’s declaration,

and hands over to him his own role as the Good Shepherd of his people.

He then tells Peter that he will, in fact die for Jesus;

not in a blaze of glory, as he had imagined,

but after a life spent as we see him in today’s reading from Acts:

boldly teaching about Jesus and the Kingdom of God,

urging people to turn their lives around.

Jesus does likewise for us.

In youth, we make our blustery promises,

then life knocks us around some

and we come back to him chastened and humbler,

saying simply: ‘Lord, I love you.’

He answers us as he answered Peter:

I know; go and tend my sheep.