The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to act in Love towards everyone, even those who threaten to do us harm.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Festus consults King Agrippa concerning Paul.
* [25:9–12] Paul refuses to acknowledge that the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem has any jurisdiction over him now (Acts 25:11). Paul uses his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to the jurisdiction of the Emperor (Nero, ca. A.D. 60) (Acts 25:12). This move broke the deadlock between Roman protective custody of Paul and the plan of his enemies to kill him (25:3).
* [25:13] King Agrippa and Bernice: brother and sister, children of Herod Agrippa I whose activities against the Jerusalem community are mentioned in Acts 12:1–19. Agrippa II was a petty ruler over small areas in northern Palestine and some villages in Perea. His influence on the Jewish population of Palestine was insignificant. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 25, n.d.)
Psalm 103 offers thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus and Peter dialogue about feeding His Sheep.
* [21:15–17] In these three verses there is a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see note on Jn 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (Jn 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock.
* [21:15] More than these: probably “more than these disciples do” rather than “more than you love them” or “more than you love these things [fishing, etc.].”
* [21:18] Originally probably a proverb about old age, now used as a figurative reference to the crucifixion of Peter. (John, CHAPTER 21, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J (2009) comments that In the Greek original text of this story, the author uses two different words for "love."
The first is agape, a very special kind of love. So, in effect, two times, Jesus asks, "Do you love me with the kind of self-sacrificing love by which God loves you?" Peter answers with the word phileo, which is "brotherly love" (the name for Philadelphia - city of brotherly love - contains this root). In effect, Peter answers three times, saying, "Yes, Lord, I love you with a special friendship." The third time Jesus uses Peter's word. Even if our love for Jesus is a special closeness, and hasn't become a self-sacrificing love yet, he still asks us to feed his sheep. And the first point for our reflection today is this: if I am feeling that I'm not feeding his sheep generously enough, then the reason may be that I need to grow in gratitude and love for Jesus' love for me first. A grateful lover of Jesus will love his sheep. (Alexander, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Do you love me? Feed my sheep,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Christ rose again in the flesh, and Peter rose in the spirit because, when Christ died in his passion, Peter died by his denial. Christ the Lord was raised from the dead, and out of his love he raised Peter. He questioned him about the love he was confessing and entrusted him with his sheep. After all, what benefit could Peter confer on Christ by the mere fact of his loving Christ? If Christ loves you, it is to your advantage, not Christ's. And if you love Christ, it is to your advantage, not Christ's. And yet Christ the Lord wanted to indicate how people ought to show that they love Christ. And he made it plain enough by entrusting him with his sheep. 'Do you love me?' 'I do.' 'Feed my sheep.' All this once, all this a second time, all this a third time. Peter made no other reply than that he loved him. The Lord asked no other question but whether he loved him. When Peter answered, our Lord did nothing else but entrust his sheep to him." (excerpt from SERMON 229n.1.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 21:15-19 comments that we can accomplish Jesus' purposes as we stay close to his love and keep trying to love him in return.
Do you love me? That question and invitation will come to you every day, perhaps multiple times and in various ways. Often your response will involve making some kind of sacrifice, whether time or resources. So whenever it comes, know that it’s Jesus giving you another chance to answer him. Don’t pass up the opportunity! Show him your love by the way you care for his people. Tend his sheep and feed his lambs wherever you find them. Believe that as you do, you are sharing the love of Christ himself with the people around you. You may not wield worldly power or authority, but you are changing lives in the most important way possible.
“Lord, you know that I love you! Help me show that love in my actions today.” (Meditation on John 21:15-19, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for today. Paul was arrested for crimes against Jewish life by Felix who was subject to taking bribes. Festus realizes Paul has not offended Roman Law. Paul as a Roman citizen appeals to be tried by Caesar because he would not make it to Jerusalem alive. The hidden message in the dialogue with Peter concerns Eros (romantic love), Philia (brotherly love), and Agape (God's divine love or unconditional love). The third time Jesus uses the love to take Peter where he is at. Friar Jude notes that Jesus role as the Good Shepherd is handed to Peter to guide the flock in Love.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM introduces Diana Gruver who writes of finding solace and hope through others who share their experiences. Theologian and minister Monica Coleman finds comfort and healing in the spirituals of the Black church.
Thus I’m convinced that when Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” from the cross (Matthew 27:45–46), he wasn’t making a profound theological statement about the hidden God. Jesus was quoting Psalm 22, the spirituals of his people. He was in pain, and he began to sing. In my sanctified imagination, I see the people at the foot of the cross joining him as we do today in my faith community: slowly at first, one voice, then another, humming, then forming words. It sounds like this:
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.
sometimes I feel like a motherless child.
sometimes I feel like a motherless child.
a long way from home….
They remind me that if you stay in a spiritual long enough, you’ll hear God, you’ll feel hope. In the depths of depression, I can think of no greater spiritual gift. (Rohr, 2023)
We are prompted by the Spirit to live a Way of Love that is demonstrated in the actions we take toward the people on our journey.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 25. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/25?13
Alexander, A. (2023, May 26). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052623.html
John, CHAPTER 21. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/21?15
Meditation on John 21:15-19. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/26/689853/
Psalms, PSALM 103. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1
Rohr, R. (2023, May 26). Finding Hope in the Depths of Depression — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/finding-hope-in-the-depths-of-depression-2023-05-26/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may26
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