Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you

14 APRIL (Jn 21,1-19)

Today Jesus reveals Peter what his mission will be: the one of loving Him more than everybody else forever. His is a true ministry of special, great and almost infinite love for his Master. He will have to nourish and feed sheep and lambs with his love. His love is more than breast milk. We can apply to Peter what Isaiah says in one of the strongest prophecies about Jerusalem.

Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; Exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, That you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts! For thus says the Lord: Lo, I will spread prosperity over her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent. As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort. When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bodies flourish like the grass; The Lord’s power shall be known to his servants, but to his enemies, his wrath. (Is 66,10-14).

Peter must be a perennial source of most pure love for Lord Jesus. The whole world, feeding on this love, will be drawn to Jesus Christ and will love him for all the days of its life. The mystery of Peter is great.

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. 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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to 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.”

The love of Peter will be sealed by the death for his Master. Jesus knows Peter. In the Upper Room he had prophesied him that on that same night he would have denied him. Now he prophesies him that his life would have ended with his martyrdom. His love for Jesus Christ would have been so great as to prefer death rather than denying him again. On this prophecy of martyrdom and violent death, Jesus calls Peter to follow him and sets off with him. Now he knows where to go. To his death, the result of his great love for the Master. The body of Peter dies, but love in him does not die. On the contrary, before the body had survived but Jesus was dead in his heart. All is from love. The more you grow in it, and the more you are also ready to leave our body to the executioners, so that Jesus lives in a powerful and full way in the heart.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints, increase in us the love for Jesus.