REFLECTIONS TODAY
The second appearance to the Eleven and the confession of Thomas are clearly the conclusion to the Gospel of John. Thomas’ address of “My Lord and my God!” to the risen Jesus (Jn 20:28) forms a literary conclusion with the opening verse of the Gospel, “… and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). Moreover, the Gospel already ends with a conclusion (Jn 20:30-31). The Epilogue, the appearance to the seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, was probably derived from another tradition which is close to the Synoptic Gospels. The importance given to Peter, his love for Jesus and the entrusting of the flock to him, align with the roles given to him in the Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. Peter, humbled by his failures, entrusts himself to Jesus. His love for Jesus and his brethren will enable him to give the followers of Jesus a shepherd’s care.
GOSPEL • JOHN 21:15-19
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?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a 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. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
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