"The Transforming Power of Love"

Today's Mass Readings

“Follow me.” These are the last words of Jesus to Peter in today’s gospel passage. But this was not the first time Peter was hearing these words. The last time Jesus told Peter, “Follow me” was by the shores of the lake of Galilee. A full three years have passed since then. And many things have happened in the span of these three years. When Jesus first came calling his disciples, Peter was among the first to be called. He had left his net and followed Jesus without hesitation. Peter got pretty close to Jesus and even became the spokesmen for others. He was the one to make the confession that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, the Messiah. He was the one to whom Jesus said “Peter you are rock and on this rock I will build my church,” and to him was entrusted the keys of the kingdom. Peter rebuked Jesus when he told the disciples about his impending death. But when Jesus explained the necessity of the Messiah to suffer and die Peter vowed he would die with Jesus. And yet Peter denied him not once but three times. No wonder, Peter is depressed in today’s gospel passage. He is ready to go back to his old profession. “I am going fishing, ” he says. Jesus had said that from now on he would be fishing men. Here was Peter going back to his old profession. And he does. But he catches nothing. Well, its been three years since he cast a net. This is when Jesus appears. Seeing it was Jesus, Peter tries to cover himself. As if one can hide anything from God. We stand naked before God.

For the three denials, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved him. And here we see the heart of God and the power of love. If we had been betrayed by one of our friends, what would we say to that person the next time we saw him/her? Would be even talk? Look him/her in the eye? Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you love me?” In other words, even through the denial, Jesus never stopped loving his friend. That is the heart of God. God’s heart never stops loving.

And so for a second time Jesus tells Peter, “Follow me.” Love has transformed Peter. He is out fearlessly preaching the resurrection of Jesus. And when they tried to stop him, he says “We must obey God rather than men.” The transforming power of love!!! Today, when we celebrate the Eucharist, let us allow the same love to transform us.