Thoughts for the Day

When 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.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt 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. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

What would you give up to achieve a goal? Top class athletes give up time to achieve their aims, often having to get up early to train in the gym, on the road, or in the swimming pool. They cannot be out partying with friends, and may need to live away from home for a lot of the time. But the ultimate goals are considered worth giving up a normal life and taking on the stresses and strains of their chosen sport, even though by their mid-thirties they will have to look at finding a new career.

Jesus' question to Peter, above, has always had for me a double nuance. Jesus has appeared to the disciples in Galilee by the lake, and has just shown the disciples where to catch some fish. As they finish their breakfast he turns to Peter and asks "Do you love me more than these?" Ostensibly he is asking Peter if he loves Jesus more than the other disciples, and he asks him three times presumably to mirror the three times that Peter denies knowing Jesus (John 18.15-27). But sitting there by the lake with the fishing boat moored by them, and with Peter's home and family nearby in Capernaum, Jesus could also have been testing him to see if he would be able to give up all that he held dear to accept the commission of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.

So the question for us is, what would we be prepared to give up to play our part in Christ's mission to the world? It's not just Peter and the eleven disciples who need to answer this, for we too are part of God's plan to bring in His kingdom of love. Our answer will change at different times of our life. But we need to accept that might need to give up time, sleep, friends, or money, depending on what God calls us to do. It's not just our church leaders that need to give this question consideration, for all of us are called to help spread the good news in speech and/or in action.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You promised to send Your people the gifts of the Spirit:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodnes,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We ask for those gifts that we need
to help spread the message of the gospel.
Give us wisdom to see that the world
needs to hear about Your message of love,
and the courage this day to speak to others.
about our faith.
Amen.