Forgiveness

“Do you love me?” John 21:17

After his death, Jesus appeared to his disciples time and again. In tomorrow’s gospel reading, we will listen to one of these stories – the one where Jesus enjoys a fish-fry breakfast on the beach with his disciples. Presumably, this story was preserved to witness to the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

An important conversation happens after breakfast. Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” and Peter’s responds, “Yes, you know that I love you.” Jesus asks him two more times, “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked him three times.

I have often wondered whether Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” because Peter had denied Jesus three times. Jesus wanted to give Peter the opportunity to fully embrace God’s forgiveness, a gift that was freely his. Jesus knew Peter struggled with his faith.

How often do you doubt God’s forgiveness? Such doubt can keep us from living fully ourselves and loving others fully. Such doubt can keep us from following the imperative Jesus gives to Peter, and to us: “Feed my sheep.” Jesus is telling Peter that loving Jesus means serving others. We are a people called to serve. It is from a heart transformed by God’s love that we are able to go out into the world to serve.

Know this: God created you and God loves you abundantly. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. You have all of God’s love. There is nothing you can do that will make God love you less. God loves you unconditionally.

So go out, a people forgiven, and feed your neighbors, the ones God loves, which is all of them.