The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today nudge us to meditate on the path Jesus invites us to take as we respond to His Love by feeding His sheep.
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| Feeding sheep |
The reading from Acts describes how the Roman official Festus consults with King Agrippa over the path of Paul who is being held in prison.
* [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.1
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).2
The Gospel of John describes the love between Jesus and Peter at a post resurrection breakfast on the beach.
* [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.3
Ed Morse shares today’s readings cause us to pause and contemplate these questions: Where are we going? Who are we following? What is feeding us and what are we feeding others?
Then Peter encounters the risen Jesus. After eating breakfast together, Jesus pressed Peter with questions. Jesus allows Peter to affirm his love three times, negating his former denials. Jesus knows Peter – including Peter’s need to know he has not lost confidence in him. Jesus calls him on to a new journey – “follow me” and “feed my sheep”. In other words, I will be with you – you will be following me, just as before. There will be uncertainty and risk. But stay away from the fear that nearly choked out your fire. And remember my love and forgiveness when you feed my sheep.
Peter and Paul, Felix, Agrippa, and Bernice, all present examples for us to contemplate. Where are we going? Who are we following? Let us neither feed on fear nor let the comforts of this life and our reliance on its illusions keep us detached from the love and forgiveness that comes from the risen Lord. Thanks be to God.4
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)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 25:13-21 comments that our lives may be filled with the “trees” of trials—or maybe just the trees of a busy schedule and concerns about our loved ones. But like Paul, we can learn how to see the whole forest.
Just what is this forest? It’s the expansive heavenly vision that the Holy Spirit wants to give us. It’s remembering that our world is filled with God’s wonders and marvels. It’s remembering that every act of love reveals another facet of our gracious, creative God. It’s the ability to enjoy the blessings of family and home that we do have rather than focusing on the things we may be lacking. It’s the decision to love our holy, beautiful Church even as we acknowledge the need for reform and renewal.
Don’t get caught up in the details! Don’t let the trees wear you down! Let God fill you with his panoramic vision. Make it a point every day to stand back and rejoice in all the blessings that Jesus has given you.
“Jesus, open my eyes to see the work you have already done in my life.”6
Friar Jude Winkler provides some insight into the weak “middle managers” of the Roman Empire who are deciding about Paul’s fate. Two different Greek words for “love” are used in the dialogue between Jesus and Peter. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus meets us where we are at the type of love and service we are able to give.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that a powerful example of these five conversions at work is The Poor People’s Campaign, first established by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others in 1968 to encourage leaders and citizens across the nation to stand in solidarity with the poor, which was revived in 2018 by the Rev. Dr. William Barber II and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis. [1] Their work with and for the poor of the United States through mutual respect, dialogue, and organizing is foundationally based on their Christian faith and study of the Gospels. In these paragraphs, Theoharis offers a scriptural exploration of what the Kingdom of God implies for the poor and marginalized—a movement of solidarity.
Centuries of [New Testament] interpretation have attempted to spiritualize or minimize this good news for the poor, hiding the reality that the Bible is a book by, about, and for poor and marginalized people. It not only says that God blesses and loves the poor, but also that the poor are God’s agents and leaders in rejecting and dismantling kingdoms built upon oppression and inequality. . . . It is the vision of society the early Christians sought to create on earth, and that we who follow Jesus today are commanded to strive for as well.7
We are invited by Jesus to “Feed My Sheep” at whatever stage in our journey we find ourselves.
References
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