The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the nature of Love and how our recognition of Jesus Love invokes praise, awe and action in our lives.
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| On the Way |
The action of Peter and John after their trial before the Sanhedrin is described in Acts.
* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18)... When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10... 1
Psalm 30 is an individual thanksgiving with praise and thanks for deliverance and restoration.
* [Psalm 30] An individual thanksgiving in four parts: praise and thanks for deliverance and restoration (Ps 30:2–4); an invitation to others to join in (Ps 30:5–6); a flashback to the time before deliverance (Ps 30:7–11); a return to praise and thanks (Ps 30:12). Two sets of images recur: 1) going down, death, silence; 2) coming up, life, praising. God has delivered the psalmist from one state to the other.2
The reading from Revelation presents images of The Scroll and the Lamb in Glory before all Creation.
* [5:1–14] The seer now describes a papyrus roll in God’s right hand (Rev 5:1) with seven seals indicating the importance of the message. A mighty angel asks who is worthy to open the scroll, i.e., who can accomplish God’s salvific plan (Rev 5:2). There is despair at first when no one in creation can do it (Rev 5:3–4). But the seer is comforted by an elder who tells him that Christ, called the lion of the tribe of Judah, has won the right to open it (Rev 5:5). Christ then appears as a Lamb, coming to receive the scroll from God (Rev 5:6–7), for which he is acclaimed as at a coronation (Rev 5:8–10). This is followed by a doxology of the angels (Rev 5:11–12) and then finally by the heavenly church united with all of creation (Rev 5:13–14).3
The Gospel from John relates the events of Jesus post resurrection appearance to seven disciples in Galilee and the dialogue about love, forgiveness and leadership between Jesus and Peter.
* [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.4
Ichykoo shares four kinds of Love in Greek.
Eros, (romantic love), Phileo, (enjoyment, fondness, friendship), Storge (family loyalty) and Agape (unconditional love with stick-ability).5
Josh Shoemaker, scholar in Christian Apologetics, comments on “phileo” and “agape” in John 21. He cites several things we can draw application from in this passage.
One, Jesus forgives us, just as He forgave Peter. Even if we fall, we can get back up and do great things for Him. Don’t give up! Recommit to Him and the Lord will use you.
Two, there is a cost to discipleship. As noted above, if we want to do great things for the Kingdom, we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves in many ways. Like Peter, we must understand that there is a cost to following Jesus, and if we want to accomplish great things for Him, often the cost is higher. But the rewards will be worth it.
Finally, a very simple daily thing we can remember that will help bring joy to our lives is the following:
Jesus first.Others Second.Yourself last.6
Maureen McCann Waldron imagines that when Peter raises his head, Jesus says, “Do you love me more than these?” gesturing toward the men, the boats, the world around them.
Now, years later, sitting at this breakfast fire Jesus had built, Peter suddenly understood. He really got it. He did not need to be afraid. Jesus knew and had already forgiven him. Jesus had loved him then, and he loved him now. Tears ran down Peter’s face as he realized the turn his life had taken that day years ago – and again today.
Jesus smiled as he looked across the fire at Peter and said simply, “Follow me.”7
Friar Jude Winkler connects the suffering for the sake of Christ’s name described in Acts to Paul completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions from Colossians 1.24 Among the many symbols in the text from Revelation are the best in Creation, eagle, ox, lion and human praising the glory of the Lamb worthy to open the Scroll and do the will of the Father. Friar Jude connects the Gospel passage to the need later in the 1st century to establish authority and leadership in a charismatic community.
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus' question to Peter,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D. Response in Love to Jesus is our invitation.
"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) 8
The texts today resonate with honour, glory, and gratitude that are abundant on the Way.
References
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(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 30 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/30
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(n.d.). Revelation, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/revelation/5
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(n.d.). ichykoo | Eros to Agape. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from https://fromerostoagape.wordpress.com/author/ichykoo/
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(2015, May 16). John 21:15-17 – Agape and Phileo continued – Discover the Bible. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from https://discoverthebible.wordpress.com/2015/05/16/john-2115-17-agape-and-phileo-continued/
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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