Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him the 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. (John 21:17)
Is Jesus being playful with Peter in this scene? One may wonder just what kind of playfulness it is when the result was that “Peter was distressed…” But recall the larger context: Peter’s triple denial of Jesus!
This is not a divine vindictiveness; it is a divine education. And it’s the way he educates us. Christ looks into our hearts: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus looks, not at our accomplishments nor even our sins. He looks at our willingness to keep trying and not to be surprised that we are weak and sinful and sometimes little or paltry or downright selfish.
Our education by Christ does not mean that sin is ignored. Rather, he seeks to teach us something by it. It is in some way to be incorporated into our lives: our growth, our deepening, our maturity as intimates of Christ. But our hearts must be open to this wounded healing process. We can be closed to it by laziness, carelessness, indifference, stubborn attachments, etc. We can also be open to it. Julian of Norwich describes such an openness. She sees sin as a scourge by which the Holy Spirit leads us to contrition and the sacrament of confession.
Every sinful soul must be healed by this medicine…. its wounds are not seen by God as wounds but as honors. And as sin is punished here with sorrow and penance, in contrary fashion it will be rewarded in heaven by the courteous love of our Lord God almighty, who does not wish anyone who comes there to lose her labors.
St. Caesarius of Arles:
In the holy souls as on a sacred altar the flame of charity consumes whatever evil is present and burns for God the fragrant incense of repentance.
Reflection by Fr. Xavier Nacke, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections