Bert helped me discover a pet peeve I call “repetitive questioners.” He asks me a question. I answer it with information he needs. He asks me whether I am 100 percent sure. I say yes. He responds with a skeptical look. I don’t know whether it’s distrust, inattentiveness, or an intricate plan to annoy me, but this interaction has been a regular lesson on patience.

Today, Jesus was the repetitive questioner. If I were in Peter’s place, my face would have shown upset, disbelief, and utter annoyance—the same reactions I had for Bert. But I realized Jesus wasn’t trying to be a pain. He could be asking me the same question not because He demanded assurance but because I needed to hear myself and firmly believe in my response. When I said I love Him, did I really mean it? Have my actions been proof of that love, or is it purely lip service?

Friends, what we say, we must believe. As we preach God’s love, our actions must support and reflect that love to others. Let us answer God’s call to love and tend to His sheep. 

Osy Erica Padilla (osy.erica@gmail.com)

reflect

“Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

Jesus, firm up my love for You, so that my response to Your Love is not only through words but more so in action. Amen.

St. Rita of Cascia, pray for us.

Often, more than one saint shares a feast day, seemingly competing for remembrance. Yet, as saints, each would undoubtedly defer to the others in humility. Let us constantly pray for this virtue, as it is central to our spiritual life. We can cultivate humility by choosing actions that draw the least attention to ourselves. There is a great cost to achieving sainthood—are we ready to pay the price? 

¹³ King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. ¹⁴ Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man here left in custody by Felix. ¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. ¹⁶ I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. ¹⁷ So when they came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. ¹⁹ Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. ²⁰ Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. ²¹ And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20

R: The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. (R) ¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. ²⁰ Bless the Lord, all you his angels, you mighty in strength, who do his bidding. (R)

Gospel | John 21:15-19

With a commitment to love, Peter responds to the same question Jesus asks him. Each time, Jesus entrusts him with the care of the flock—the fledgling Christian Church. Saint Peter remains the longest-serving pope, with a tenure of about thirty-four years. Only a few have come close, all within the last couple of centuries, the most recent being St. John Paul II, who served for twenty-eight years.

Gospel Acclamation

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you.

¹⁵ After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflect

How committed are you to caring for the people whom God has entrusted to you? 

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 SAMUEL  5 - 8 today.

I was at a dinner hosted by a good family friend. The whole family was present—the couple and their four children. In the middle of the meal, the youngest child, around five years old, threw a tantrum. She brushed aside anything her mother gave her, spilling some food on herself and on the floor. The father apologized to me and was about to berate the child when the mother gently tapped him in the arms, excusing herself as  she cleaned the mess and took care of the rowdy child.

She distanced the child away from everyone’s hearing. She stooped down and patiently asked the girl what her concern was. They were at a distance, but I could hear some of her words to the child: “That’s OK, baby, we will just change your shirt. I know you’re sorry—don’t worry, they understand. Would you like to come back to the table?” The girl rejoined us like nothing happened, but she was in a better mood. The mother knew the principle—care before you confront.

The Risen Jesus in today’s Gospel practiced the same. He appeared to the Apostles by the Sea of Tiberias, and they shared breakfast. Instead of a scorching rebuke, Jesus prepared a hot meal for them to share.

The highlight of this encounter is Jesus asking Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” Biblical scholars note that Jesus’ triple inquiry has a correlation to Peter’s triple denials of Jesus. Jesus asked Peter in public, not to humiliate him but to heal him—that his sins may be brought out into the light. At that point, He can now confront because He has cared for them.

When you know that the other person cares for you, confrontation is never threatening. You don’t care to be vulnerable because you trust that the other will not abuse you in your vulnerability. 

Fr. Joel O. Jason 

reflection question

People don’t care how much you know ‘til they know how much you care.

Help me realize, Father, that more battles are won with care than with confrontation. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________________