Today’s Gospel can be seen as the rehabilitation of St. Peter. The scene takes us back to both a prediction and a fact. The prediction came during the Last Supper, when Jesus warned His disciples that they would all fall away and be scattered. He specifically warned Peter that he would deny Him.
Peter took issue with this, declaring that even if the others fell away, he would not. Jesus, however, told him that he would deny even knowing Him three times. This was the prediction, and, as we know, it became a painful reality.
As Jesus endured His passion, Peter fell into denial. He denied being with Jesus in the garden. He denied being one of His closest friends, and even swore with a curse that he did not know Jesus.
But in this Gospel, Peter is restored. His triple denial is symbolically undone by Jesus, who asks him three times, “Do you love Me?” Each time, Peter responds, “You know that I love you.” With this, Peter is restored to the disciple he once denied being. He feels the love that defines true discipleship.
This restoration leads to a commission. Jesus sends Peter on a mission to feed His flock – not because Peter is worthy, but because God works through the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God does not rely on the powerful; He calls on the humble and lowly to carry out His service.
This was Peter’s destiny. The commission to feed Christ’s sheep would eventually lead him to a cross. Peter dies in the same manner as His Master. He goes from conversion to commission, and ultimately to crucifixion.
In our own Christian lives, we too experience this journey of conversion, commission, and crucifixion. In Baptism, we are converted, dying to sin and rising with Christ.
Our commission, like Peter’s, is to spread the Gospel. We do not have to leave the work to professionals, like priests, deacons, nuns, and Saints. We can spread the Gospel in our everyday lives. We are called to let our light shine and let goodness flow from our hearts. As Jesus said, we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. No one is exempt from this mission.
Following Christ also means carrying a cross. If we are to be His disciples, we must take up our cross daily. The cross we bear may be physical, spiritual, or psychological: from illness to the death of a loved one; from the pain of betrayal to the weight of broken relationships, our crosses can bring deep suffering. None of us enjoy our burdens, but we are called to carry them with faith.
Perhaps we can approach our crosses differently. Let’s consider Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross. Perhaps we are called to be a Simon for the Christs around us – helping others bear their burdens. We don’t have to perform grand gestures. Sometimes a simple smile, a kind word, or a small act of kindness can be a way of ministering to others. We can bring Christ into our homes, our workplaces and our communities.
If Jesus were to ask us, “Do you love Me?” most of us would respond, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” But our response must be more than words; it must be lived out in action.
As Christians, it is our job to feed His sheep and tend His flock, so that when Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?” we can answer honestly. Not just with our lips, but with our lives.
