Do You Love Me?
John 21:15-19 | 6 June - Friday of the 7th week of Eastertide Year C (1)
From the Gospel according to John
When Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and 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 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 grieved because he said to him the 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. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
This powerful encounter takes place on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, after Jesus' resurrection. The setting is deeply significant - a charcoal fire on the beach, reminiscent of the fire where Peter had denied Jesus three times. Now, in a beautiful act of restoration, Jesus asks Peter three times about his love, matching and healing the three denials.
The threefold question "Do you love me?" parallels Peter's threefold denial
The progression from "Feed my lambs" to "Tend my sheep" to "Feed my sheep" shows the comprehensive nature of pastoral care
Jesus' prophecy about Peter's future martyrdom reveals the cost of discipleship
This passage is fundamentally about restoration, recommissioning, and the intimate connection between loving Jesus and serving others. Jesus doesn't simply forgive Peter; He reinstates him to leadership and service. The core truth is that our service to others must flow from our love for Christ. When Jesus asks "Do you love me?", He immediately connects that love to action - feeding and tending His flock.
I'm reminded of a time when I felt I had failed in my faith journey. Like Peter, I carried the weight of my shortcomings, wondering if I could ever be useful in God's kingdom again. But just as Jesus met Peter where he was, He meets us in our brokenness. The breakfast on the beach wasn't just a meal - it was a restoration ceremony, showing us that our past failures don't define our future ministry.
The beautiful thing about this passage is how Jesus turns Peter's greatest shame into his greatest commission. The very place of failure becomes the launching pad for his future ministry.
Act: Take 5 minutes to sit quietly and answer Jesus' question, "Do you love me?" Then identify one concrete way you can "feed His sheep" - perhaps through encouragement, service, or sharing God's love with someone in need.
Reflect:
Where in your life do you need Christ's restoration?
How does your love for Jesus translate into care for others?
What "sheep" has God placed in your life to tend?
Let us pray: Lord, transform our love for you into active service for others.
From the sayings of Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia:
Listen to the Lord who says to you from the Cross: "My soul thirsts for you!”