Sunday Readings: Acts 5.27-32, 40-41; Revelation 5.11-14; John 21.1-19
“Peter felt hurt because Jesus said to him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.'”
(John 21.19)
Peter and several of Jesus’ disciples make a big catch of fish by following Jesus’ directions to cast their nets to the starboard side. After the catch and breakfast together, the risen Jesus takes Peter aside to untangle their relationship. Jesus begins the conversation by asking if Peter loves him more than the other disciples. As a response to Peter’s threefold protestations of his love, Jesus gives him three commands: Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep. This pastoral work will season Peter. He will show his love by nourishing and caring for Jesus’ followers, by taking responsibility for the well-being of the community. His duty is to keep sheep in the love that Jesus taught them, the love Jesus demonstrated in laying down his life for the flock. He is to feed, tend, and love the community, not lord it over the flock.
With whom do you need to have a reconciling, untangling conversation?
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