For the readings of today’s mass, go to
https://www.livingwithchrist.ca/images/article_images/pdf/May_29_Pages_from_LWC_May2020-lowres-5.pdf
Simon, son of John, do you love me? Simon Peter, better know to us as St. Peter, is asked this question 3 times by Jesus. The three times of course are a reference to Simon Peter's three-fold denial of Jesus during Jesus' Passion.
This short passage provides much material to ponder. Much can be said about Jesus' forgiveness of Simon Peter, but today I would like to look at it from another angle.
"With every right comes a responsibility". The truth of that statement is sadly forgotten by many, especially when we have lived in a society which focusses so heavily on our rights. But the truth is with every right there is a corresponding responsibility.
Today, I would like to add a corollary to that phrase - "With love, comes much responsibility".
Notice that each time Simon Peter affirms his love for Jesus, Jesus issues a command to him: Feed my labs, tend my sheep; and feed my sheep. With each affirmation of love, Jesus increases Simon Peter's responsibilities for the future. Ultimately, these 3 commands will find their fulfillment in Peter's ministry that we read in the Acts of the Apostles, and later when he serves as the first bishop of Rome. And in all of this, Peter would take on much responsibility.
And why does Peter do so? He has committed himself to love our Lord. And to love Jesus means to serve Jesus, especially for our care of those that we love in this life, and all those entrusted to our care.
Think about it this way: When you exchanged your marriage vows of love, what did you say to each other? That you would be true to each other, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, all the days of your life. Whether or not you realized it, with those words you took on some very large responsibilities, many of which would only be manifested many years later. But they fell into your lap, and you had to carry them out, because you loved him or her.
It is true: With love, comes much responsibility.
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Please join us this evening for our "Summit" 7 pm livestream Adoration and Benediction service. More details can be found on our website or directly going to the link:
https://myparish.org/event/5ecff011b6a8010060de0ce0