Third Sunday of Easter

“Feed My Lambs, Feed My Sheep’’

St. Peter is one of the most appealing persons in the New Testament. Most of us can identify with his human foibles. As a disciple of Jesus he was eager but weak, a man of great resolutions who experienced failure. On the night of the passion three times he denied knowing Jesus. After the resurrection three times he was asked by Jesus about his love, and three times Peter protected his devotion. What is remarkable about this last episode is not that Jesus was so patient and understanding that he was willing to offer Peter a new opportunity to express his love. We fully expect that kind of compassion from Jesus. What is remarkable is the response Jesus made to each of Peter’s expression of love. Jesus did not say, ‘’Peter, if you love me fall down and worship me.’’ He did not demand anything for himself, even though, in the word of the book of Revelation he was ‘’worthy to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise.’’ In fact Jesus did not think of himself but of us. In a generous and unselfish manner he told Peter: If you love me, ‘’feed my lambs; feed my sheep.’’ Actually that too we should expect of Jesus because he came into the world for us and for our salvation. He offered himself in sacrifice so that by dying he could destroy our death and by rising he could restore our life. The Church accomplishes this mission by means of the Mass, first in the Liturgy of the Word and then in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We are fed, we are nourished, by both Word and Sacrament, by both the Scriptures and the Eucharist.

~~Fr. Paul Materu