SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

At 25,13b- 21; Ps 102; Jn 21,15-19
18 MAY
The higher we are, the greater our love must be. Jesus has been placed by the Father as the giver of life for every man, he must be full of life more than any other man. Jesus can be full of life more than any other, if he loves the Father more than any other. He loved the Father until he died on the cross and the Father was all placed in the heart of Christ with the fullness of his love and his truth. Now Jesus can love every man, of every time and every place, for eternity. Everyone can draw life from his divine and eternal source. If Jesus had not loved the Father more than anyone, he would have never been able to satisfy everyone with his love. God is love. Christ can love everyone by becoming Him, through his obedience, love of the Father. It is the eternal law of love.

Peter is called to feed sheep and lambs, that is, the whole flock of the Lord. It must nourish it with the love of Christ the Lord. For this he must love him, his Master, more than all the others. To feed all the others, he must be above all others. Above others he is only in one way: loving Christ just as Christ loved the Father. Christ Jesus is above others, because he loved the Father more than any other. Peter is above others because he is called to love Christ more than all others. But Peter does not yet feel capable of such a great love. He does not have the courage to tell Christ that he loves him. He simply tells him that he is fond of him. Jesus knows Peter’s heart. He knows that now his love for him is great and entrusts him with sheep and lambs. The teaching is great for us. We are asked not to ever overestimate our love for Christ. It is asked to always underestimate it, so as to remain not only in great humility, but also in an incessant prayer so that the Lord may add love to love, truth to truth, justice to justice and holiness to holiness. Peter applies this rule to himself – his love is always little for Jesus – and he applies it to others. He asks the disciples of Jesus to add what is lacking in his perfection.

His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who lacks them is blind and short sighted, forgetful of the cleansing of his past sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble. For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you (2Pt 1,3-11).

After his profession of love, no one might question Peter’s love for his Master. It is on the foundation of this love that Peter will be able to follow the Master, offering also his blood to him tomorrow. He will never betray Jesus again.

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.”

In the Upper Room Peter had asked for martyrdom. This grace is now granted to him.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us grow in love.