Feed my lambs
Published Jun 3, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
At the close of his Gospel, John presents Jesus as giving Simon Peter a share of his mission as the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them. The foremost consideration for this responsibility is the love of Simon for Jesus, the confession of which Jesus elicits from him three times.
Simon is to feed Jesus’ sheep through his leadership. Jesus also alludes to Simon laying down his life by signifying what kind of death Simon would glorify God. Later, in the letter that bears his name, Peter instructs the presbyters who are the caretakers of the Christian community: “Tend the flock of God in your midst, not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Pt 5:1-4).
At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, priests all over the world were among the frontliners who attended to the care of the people in their physical and spiritual needs. Many died in their line of duty. They proved to be true shepherds, as Jesus asks Simon Peter to be.
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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
At the close of his Gospel, John presents Jesus as giving Simon Peter a share of his mission as the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them. The foremost consideration for this responsibility is the love of Simon for Jesus, the confession of which Jesus elicits from him three times.
Simon is to feed Jesus’ sheep through his leadership. Jesus also alludes to Simon laying down his life by signifying what kind of death Simon would glorify God. Later, in the letter that bears his name, Peter instructs the presbyters who are the caretakers of the Christian community: “Tend the flock of God in your midst, not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Pt 5:1-4).
At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, priests all over the world were among the frontliners who attended to the care of the people in their physical and spiritual needs. Many died in their line of duty. They proved to be true shepherds, as Jesus asks Simon Peter to be.
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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.