3^rd Sunday of Easter, C,  2007

Jesus calls Peter to profess his love three times.

It is possible that he wanted Peter to heal himself

from the wounds of his three fold denial of Jesus.

Jesus once said that in loving we fulfil all the commandments of God. What love is precisely may be debatable for us but Jesus showed his apostles what he meant by love during the three years they travelled together. They had the experience of his love and his commandment: ‘love one another as I have loved you.’ So when Peter said ‘you know I love you Lord’ he knew loving meant giving himself.

Then Jesus appointed him shepherd of the flock,

guardian of the growing number of Christians. 

The Acts of the Apostles tells wonderful story

of the spiritual development of Peter and the Apostles.

When Jesus first called them they responded to

human leadership, they became followers and part of a group.

After the death of Jesus they were lost and frightened.

After they had met the risen Jesus they were happy and hopeful but still timid and without direction.

After receiving the Holy Spirit they acquired a clear aim,

to preach the Good News of forgiveness through repentance

and life through belief in Jesus the Son of God

who had risen from death.

They discovered that they had powers to heal people

and courage to speak up before the most powerful men.

Angelic intervention set them free from prison.

When they were flogged for preaching Jesus they shook it off and even considered it an honour to have suffered humiliation for Jesus’ name.

They had the example of the courageous life of Jesus before them.

We have the example of Jesus and the Apostles before us.

Let us ask ourselves: how do I carry on the work of Jesus?