Third Sunday of Easter
Last Monday, I celebrated the 28th anniversary of my Ordination. When I joined the seminary in 1983 and was ordained in 1994, I would not have imagined that I will be where I am today. On July 1, I will become the pastor of five parishes. If I must be honest, I am nervous. The immensity of the task is overwhelming. I realize that I am a certain juncture of my life.
But let me draw the attention away from myself. Perhaps, we have all been at important junctures of lie - a new job, a promotion, a termination, a transition, news of a serious or terminal illness, a life-threatening surgery, an age milestone, a break-up, a divorce, a death.
Peter and the disciples stood at a very crucial juncture of their lives, their faith, and their future. They had heeded Jesus’ call, followed him for three years, observed his lifestyle, heard his teaching, noticed opposition build, witnessed his persecution, seen his violent crucifixion, and three days later, his resurrection. And now they stand at a particular juncture of their lives. Jesus intervenes. Jesus intervenes in ways that gives them hope and direction.
In my three points, I would like to reflect on Jesus’ intervention and draw lessons for us today.
“Do You Love Me?”
At a critical juncture in the life the apostles the nascent Church, Jesus asked Peter the question: “Do you love me?” Why this question? The question was not, “Do you remember everything I have said?” or “Are you up to this?” or “You denied me three times! Can I still trust you?” The question was, “Do you love me?”
I stand at a juncture of my life. What question should I imagine Jesus is asking me? Perhaps, you are at a juncture of your life. And even if you not at any juncture, what question should you imagine Jesus is asking you? No matter where we stand, what if the most important question, or perhaps, the only question that you and I need to answer is, “Do you love me?”
"Do You Love Me?" Imagining Life
How do we imagine life? Let me clarify the question. Children often share how they imagine their future. “I want to be a teacher”, or “I want to be a veterinary doctor”, or “when I grow up I want to be an actor”. What are they saying? They are imagining life. They are describing what will define them.
When Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” he was asking Peter how he imagined life. Jesus was asking Peter what was central to his life. Jesus was asking Peter how he defined life. Jesus was inviting Peter to make his answer his life-defining answer. Jesus was inviting Peter to make his answer to the question, “Do you love me?” central to his existence. Jesus was inviting Peter to imagine life with, “Lord you know that I love you!”
What if today’s scripture is inviting us to imagine life the same way that Jesus was inviting Peter. “Satish, son of Joseph, do you love me?” Your answer and mine to this question is the most life-defining answer we will ever make.
"Do You Love Me": Overflowing Love
Jesus’ question “Do you love me?” and Peter’s answer, “Lord, you know that I love you” is not some narcissistic exercise. Peter’s confession of his love leads him to the community. Three times Jesus says to Peter, “Feed my lambs!"
Even though Peter was at a critical juncture of his life, even though I am at a critical juncture of my life, and even though you might be at a critical juncture of your life, Jesus’ questions is not some vain sentimentalism. God’s love of us and our love of God will always accomplish two things – give us meaning and lead us to live meaningfully in the world. True love is not inward looking. True love leads us back to the family, the community, the church, the poor, the world. It would be Peter’s love for Christ that would impel him to feed the lambs. It is our love for Christ and Christ’s love for us that that lead us from at the critical juncture we are in and take us beyond.
At this Eucharist, we encounter the same Christ who asks us the same question that he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Not once but three times. As you receive the risen Lord in Communion, enter into a conversation with Him. May it give you hope and direction. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph