Do You Love God?

Whenever a Christian is asked if he loves God, the answer is always yes. “Yes Lord, you know that I love you,” were the words of Saint Peter just days after he denied even knowing Christ. Christ’s response, “Feed my lambs,” is more than just an answer. It is a challenge.

At that time, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. And he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he 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. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

John 21.14-25

The dialogue between Christ and Saint Peter after the resurrection, often misunderstood, teaches us just how much God loves us, even if we fall short of loving Him. Christ gave Saint Peter three chances to confess his love to repent for his three denials during the trial.

As Christians we are supposed to love each other as Christ loves us. Today’s Gospel lesson is a challenge, so we must ask ourselves, “How many chances are we willing to give someone?” One? Maybe not even one.

Christ commands us, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13.34) He also says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14.15) Why all this emphasis on love? “God is love.” (1 John 4.8)

Today is the Feast of the Falling Asleep of Saint John the Theologian, the author of the Gospel and Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelations. He was the ONLY original disciple not martyred for his faith. We can learn a lot from him.

In honor of his feast today, I invite you spend some time reading his account and teachings about Christ. Then, challenge yourself to love as Christ loves, as John loved. In honor of today’s Gospel lesson, I invite you begin by loving those who deny you. It’s a great start to love.

It is easy to love those who don’t know you. It is easy to love the poor from the comfortable distance of a soup kitchen. It is quite another level of love to stand with someone who denies even knowing you, after having spent three years at your side.

Do you love God? Then start by ‘finding your peter’ and giving him another chance.