"DO YOU LOVE ME? THEN FEED MY SHEEP"

FRIDAY, 25 MAY 2007
Reading: John 21:15—19

“Do you love me?” That’s what Jesus asked Peter. Not once but three times. Peter had denied Jesus three times and Jesus was giving him a chance to make up for it. “If you really love me, Peter, then prove it. Feed my lambs and tend my sheep.”

Have we ever denied Jesus? Maybe not in so many words, like Peter when he said, “I don’t even know the man,” but we indicate a denial of Jesus every time we sin.

Our ignoring of his teachings, our resistance to his grace in thought, word, and deed is essentially denying him, denying knowing him, denying our belief and trust in him and his words. And so, not just three times, but many times a day Jesus gives us chances to make up for it. He asks us if we love him and then tells us to prove it.

The alarm rings. “Do you love me, Sally? Then get up, say some prayers, and feed your cat and kids.” You go to work. “Do you love me, Henry? Then try tending to your work a bit better than you did yesterday.” “Do you love me, Sally and Henry? Then be appreciative of all my Father and I do for you and pass it along to others by doing likewise for them.”

All day long Jesus is asking us if we love him and then gives us chance after chance to prove it. Peter proved his love for Jesus many times over. Now it is our turn.