7th Week of Easter – Friday C

Published on 5 June 2025 at 13:07

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in our Holy Mass today, we continue to celebrate the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ — the foundation of our faith, the promise of eternal life, and his ultimate victory over sin and death for us. The Gospel passage we reflect on today offers us profound insights into the nature of love, service, and discipleship, especially as we consider the role of Peter, our first pope, and the calling that each of us bears as members of the Church.

In this Gospel, after the Resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples, reveals himself, and shares a simple but profound meal with them. Then, he turns to Peter with the all-important question: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter’s threefold affirmation of love echoes his earlier threefold denial, yet here, it is a moment of reconciliation, renewal, and commissioning.

Jesus’s question, “Do you love me?” is a call to a love that is active and sacrificial — a love that leads to service. Jesus then commands Peter to “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” These words embody the essence of the pastoral mission entrusted to Peter — to shepherd the flock of Christ with love, humility, and unwavering faith.

This passage reminds us that the resurrection is not just a triumphant event in history but a daily call to live out the loving presence of Christ in our lives. Our love for Jesus must be expressed in service to others — especially to those most in need — as a reflection of his own love for us. One of the greatest acts of charity, is forgiveness. Our Lord is simultaneously saying to Peter, “I forgive you for denying you even know me. You were traumatized. Now, let’s move on.” There’s no way to tell what impact this mercy would have had on Peter, only we know it was the impetus for igniting a love in him that would even lead to martyrdom.

For our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and for all who lead in the Church, this Gospel underscores the divine responsibility to shepherd with love and humility. The papacy is a vocation rooted in love — love for Christ and for his flock. It is a calling to serve not for personal glory but to point others toward the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep.

To all of us, as members of the Church, the resurrection beckons us to walk together on this journey of faith. We are called to be a community that loves deeply, serves generously, and bears witness to the risen Lord in our words and actions. Like Peter, we may stumble, but the Lord’s mercy renews us, calling us to follow him faithfully.

The Lord’s words to Peter about growing old — “when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands” — remind us that discipleship involves sacrifice and sometimes suffering, both of these for the glory of the one who suffered for our salvation.

Today, let us renew our commitment to love Jesus with all our hearts, to serve our brothers and sisters with humility, and to walk in hope, trusting in the promise of the resurrection. As Pope Leo XIV leads us, may we continue to follow Christ faithfully, knowing that in loving and serving, we participate in the divine life, and in the end, we will see him face to face in eternity.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.


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