RBWords

     The quotation is from the longer gospel scripture for this Sunday.  I hope that your parish will read the whole passage.  Although next Sunday is "Good Shepherd" Sunday, Jesus' challenge to Peter features the shepherd image.  In this case, however, the important relationship is that of the shepherd to the owner and not to the flock.  Peter denied Jesus three times in the course of the passion events.  In this passage, he has a chance to repent.  I sometimes feel there is a shamefaced reluctance for him to admit his betrayal.  He says, "you know that I love you."  There's a kind of "Do you have to ask and put me through this?..." tone to it.  But I have heard similar responses from other people in ordinary relationships in words like these:  "Why do I have to say, 'I love you?' when you already know I love you?"  Well, some things need to be said out loud and that is an important one.

     If the love of neighbor is the sole reason for our attention and care, and not the love of God, we are missing something.  Both "loves" are essential.  It is important that our neighbor see our love of God in our actions, otherwise we are acting only from humanitarian motives, at best.  In Peter's case, that love was there but he had to acknowledge his fearful denial of Jesus before he could be a complete shepherd   Next Sunday, the relationship of shepherd to the sheep will be the focus of attention.  For now, we can remember that our love of God needs expression and not a demand that God simply read our minds.  AMEN