John 21:15-19
In our reading Jesus commissions Peter to care for his people, for his sheep.
I wonder what the qualification is for a new Archbishop? Or a new pope? This is rather an appropriate passage for the beginning of the conclave.
1. It is about a very personal encounter between Jesus and Peter
Three times Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you love me?’
Twice Peter answers, ‘You know that I love you’.
But the third time he says, and I wonder whether it is a bit of revelation to him, ‘Lord you know all things. You know that I love you’.
John tells us that Peter denies Jesus three times, just as Jesus predicted. But, unlike Luke, he does not tell us that Jesus turns and looks at Peter after the third denial in the courtyard. So, when Jesus asks him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’, he must have realised and is now acknowledging that Jesus knew that he had denied him three times.
In some homes you can find a picture on the wall with the words, ‘Jesus is the unseen guest at every meal. The unheard listener to every conversation’. That is a bit scary.
But this is different – the one who knows really is the one who loves you, who delights in you, who longs to see us flourish, and who is hurt when we deny him.
And God does know us. He knows our hearts, our bravado, our elitism (when we think we are better than others), our sense of inadequacy, our lack of trust in him, our pride and self-centredness, our betrayals and denials – and yet he goes on loving us.
Peter didn’t need to say, ‘Jesus I denied you three times’, because he knew that Jesus knew. And he didn’t need to say sorry, because he realised that Jesus knew that he was heartbroken at what he had done.
And Peter also knew that Jesus knew that he loved him.
Jesus knows the tiny spark of love for him that is within our hearts.
He knows the desire for him, for his things, for his world, for his glory. He knows our longing for communion with him, to be one with him.
How would you answer Jesus if he asked you, ‘Do you love me?’
I suspect many of us could not say ‘you know I love you’, because we are not sure. But perhaps we could say, ‘You know that I want to love you. You know that I want to desire your things above all things; that I want to long for communion with you’.
The fact that you are here says quite a lot in today’s world.
And he knows that.
And when Jesus asks Peter to tell him that he loves him, Jesus is not doing that for his sake.
Of course, it really is important in our human relationships, because of our own inconstancies and inadequacies, that we do continue to speak our love.
There is the story of the man whose long suffering wife pointed out to him that he never said that he loved her. He replied, ‘I said that 35 years ago and have I ever given an indication that I’ve changed my mind?’
That is probably worse, but only a little worse, than the person who proposed to their beloved by asking her whether she wanted to see his name on her gravestone! I asked AI who it was, and it replied that it did not know but that ‘it seems to be a deeply symbolic and poetic way of expressing lifelong commitment’. I would not advise anyone to go to AI if they are wanting to find a way to propose!
We need to declare and express our love. Romance is important.
But this is different.
Jesus is not getting Peter to say ‘I love you’ three times for his sake; he is not doing it to humiliate Peter. He is doing it for Peter’s sake: Not to cancel out the denial, but to give him the opportunity to express his deepest desire and longing, and in public.
And when Peter says, ‘Lord you know all things’, he means all things
Jesus knew that Peter would deny him.
In our reading Jesus commissions Peter to care for his people, for his sheep.
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I wonder what the qualification is for a new Archbishop? Or a new pope? This is rather an appropriate passage for the beginning of the conclave.
1. It is about a very personal encounter between Jesus and Peter
Three times Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you love me?’
Twice Peter answers, ‘You know that I love you’.
But the third time he says, and I wonder whether it is a bit of revelation to him, ‘Lord you know all things. You know that I love you’.
John tells us that Peter denies Jesus three times, just as Jesus predicted. But, unlike Luke, he does not tell us that Jesus turns and looks at Peter after the third denial in the courtyard. So, when Jesus asks him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’, he must have realised and is now acknowledging that Jesus knew that he had denied him three times.
In some homes you can find a picture on the wall with the words, ‘Jesus is the unseen guest at every meal. The unheard listener to every conversation’. That is a bit scary.
But this is different – the one who knows really is the one who loves you, who delights in you, who longs to see us flourish, and who is hurt when we deny him.
And God does know us. He knows our hearts, our bravado, our elitism (when we think we are better than others), our sense of inadequacy, our lack of trust in him, our pride and self-centredness, our betrayals and denials – and yet he goes on loving us.
Peter didn’t need to say, ‘Jesus I denied you three times’, because he knew that Jesus knew. And he didn’t need to say sorry, because he realised that Jesus knew that he was heartbroken at what he had done.
And Peter also knew that Jesus knew that he loved him.
Jesus knows the tiny spark of love for him that is within our hearts.
He knows the desire for him, for his things, for his world, for his glory. He knows our longing for communion with him, to be one with him.
How would you answer Jesus if he asked you, ‘Do you love me?’
I suspect many of us could not say ‘you know I love you’, because we are not sure. But perhaps we could say, ‘You know that I want to love you. You know that I want to desire your things above all things; that I want to long for communion with you’.
The fact that you are here says quite a lot in today’s world.
And he knows that.
And when Jesus asks Peter to tell him that he loves him, Jesus is not doing that for his sake.
Of course, it really is important in our human relationships, because of our own inconstancies and inadequacies, that we do continue to speak our love.
There is the story of the man whose long suffering wife pointed out to him that he never said that he loved her. He replied, ‘I said that 35 years ago and have I ever given an indication that I’ve changed my mind?’
That is probably worse, but only a little worse, than the person who proposed to their beloved by asking her whether she wanted to see his name on her gravestone! I asked AI who it was, and it replied that it did not know but that ‘it seems to be a deeply symbolic and poetic way of expressing lifelong commitment’. I would not advise anyone to go to AI if they are wanting to find a way to propose!
We need to declare and express our love. Romance is important.
But this is different.
Jesus is not getting Peter to say ‘I love you’ three times for his sake; he is not doing it to humiliate Peter. He is doing it for Peter’s sake: Not to cancel out the denial, but to give him the opportunity to express his deepest desire and longing, and in public.
And when Peter says, ‘Lord you know all things’, he means all things
Jesus knew that Peter would deny him.
And Jesus does know. He knows our past, the hurts we have received, the hurts we have caused, our frustrated hopes and longings, our achievements and failures, our deep sadnesses, our current fears and desires.
And he knows what will happen.
He knew that Peter would be bound and led where he did not want to go. He is referring to Peter’s crucifixion, but perhaps he could be speaking to us. He knows what it is for us to grow older, to have things stripped away from us, not to be in control anymore.
We don’t want to go there. But when we have to go there, we go knowing that he knows, that we matter to him and that he will be there.
Jesus knows all things
2. Peter is commissioned by Jesus
Or perhaps one should say ‘recommissioned’.
Peter is the new name that Jesus gives Simon, which is why our passage speaks of Simon Peter. Peter is a nickname, and it means rocky. And Jesus gives Simon the new name, when Simon declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He tells him that he will build his church on that rock.
I don’t think that means ‘the throne’ of Peter in Rome.
But I do think it means that Jesus will build his church on the confession of Peter, and that Peter will be the first leader of the people of Jesus.
And now Jesus makes that clear.
And it is Peter – the Peter who confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Peter who three times denies that he knows Jesus, and who now three times declares his love for Jesus - who is asked to feed God’s lambs and tend his sheep.
The shepherd is Jesus. The flock belongs to Jesus. He is the one who will lead us and feed us and protect us as the people of God.
But it is very good to have under shepherds, earthly pastors who have failed publicly in their Christian witness but have turned back, or who know how easily they can fail. They are aware of their own weakness and vulnerability. Pope Francis would always begin meetings with people by asking them to pray for him. They are aware of their constant need for God, that they cannot lay down their lives for Jesus but that they need him to lay down his life for them. They know of their need for his compassion and mercy. They know how hard it is, but also how good it is, to walk the way of Jesus. And they have really begun to discover for themselves the wonderful love and forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus.
Romanus Melodus was a poet. I doubt you have heard of him because he lived about 1500 years ago. He wrote a poem. It is rather beautiful, and it sums up most of what I have wanted to say.
“Look to me, Peter, on how you offer instruction.
Remembering your own fall, sympathize with all.
Mindful of that *maiden
who caused your own downfall, do not be harsh.
If conceit attacks you, listen again to the sound of the rooster’s crow,
And remember the tears with whose streams I washed you,
I who alone know what is in your heart.
Peter, do you love me?
Do what I say, feed my flock, and love those whom I love,
Sympathizing with sinners and remembering the compassion I had for you, since I received you after you denied me three times.
You have a **thief as gatekeeper of paradise to give you courage.
Send him those whom you wish.
Because of you, Adam turned to me,
Crying, “O Creator offer me
The robber as gatekeeper, and Cephas (Peter) as keeper of the keys.
You who alone know what is in the heart.”
*Maiden: refers to the girl who challenged Peter if he was a follower of Jesus, to whom he says that he does not know Jesus.
**thief: the robber who is crucified beside Jesus, who asks Jesus for mercy, and who is told that ‘today you will be in paradise with me’. It is said that he is the first person in heaven after Jesus dies.
And he knows what will happen.
He knew that Peter would be bound and led where he did not want to go. He is referring to Peter’s crucifixion, but perhaps he could be speaking to us. He knows what it is for us to grow older, to have things stripped away from us, not to be in control anymore.
We don’t want to go there. But when we have to go there, we go knowing that he knows, that we matter to him and that he will be there.
Jesus knows all things
2. Peter is commissioned by Jesus
Or perhaps one should say ‘recommissioned’.
Peter is the new name that Jesus gives Simon, which is why our passage speaks of Simon Peter. Peter is a nickname, and it means rocky. And Jesus gives Simon the new name, when Simon declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He tells him that he will build his church on that rock.
I don’t think that means ‘the throne’ of Peter in Rome.
But I do think it means that Jesus will build his church on the confession of Peter, and that Peter will be the first leader of the people of Jesus.
And now Jesus makes that clear.
And it is Peter – the Peter who confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Peter who three times denies that he knows Jesus, and who now three times declares his love for Jesus - who is asked to feed God’s lambs and tend his sheep.
The shepherd is Jesus. The flock belongs to Jesus. He is the one who will lead us and feed us and protect us as the people of God.
But it is very good to have under shepherds, earthly pastors who have failed publicly in their Christian witness but have turned back, or who know how easily they can fail. They are aware of their own weakness and vulnerability. Pope Francis would always begin meetings with people by asking them to pray for him. They are aware of their constant need for God, that they cannot lay down their lives for Jesus but that they need him to lay down his life for them. They know of their need for his compassion and mercy. They know how hard it is, but also how good it is, to walk the way of Jesus. And they have really begun to discover for themselves the wonderful love and forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus.
Romanus Melodus was a poet. I doubt you have heard of him because he lived about 1500 years ago. He wrote a poem. It is rather beautiful, and it sums up most of what I have wanted to say.
“Look to me, Peter, on how you offer instruction.
Remembering your own fall, sympathize with all.
Mindful of that *maiden
who caused your own downfall, do not be harsh.
If conceit attacks you, listen again to the sound of the rooster’s crow,
And remember the tears with whose streams I washed you,
I who alone know what is in your heart.
Peter, do you love me?
Do what I say, feed my flock, and love those whom I love,
Sympathizing with sinners and remembering the compassion I had for you, since I received you after you denied me three times.
You have a **thief as gatekeeper of paradise to give you courage.
Send him those whom you wish.
Because of you, Adam turned to me,
Crying, “O Creator offer me
The robber as gatekeeper, and Cephas (Peter) as keeper of the keys.
You who alone know what is in the heart.”
*Maiden: refers to the girl who challenged Peter if he was a follower of Jesus, to whom he says that he does not know Jesus.
**thief: the robber who is crucified beside Jesus, who asks Jesus for mercy, and who is told that ‘today you will be in paradise with me’. It is said that he is the first person in heaven after Jesus dies.
Beautiful sermon, beautiful poem, beautiful icon. Thank you for sharing these. Nadia
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm afraid I didn't understand the reference to Adam in the poem though.