Do You Love Me?

Two churches come to my mind today –

1^st is on the shore of the Sea of Galilee – has a Rock inside called Mensa Christi – Table of Christ – where Jesus served that 1^st Breakfast – simple, humble church

2^nd – in Rome – great Basilica -  built over the Tomb of Peter

Amazing  – had come so far from Galilee!  How did he get there?

Peter:  Given name was Simon – called Petra – Rock, but also Scandalon – Stumbling Stone

-       Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man – From now on catching people.

-       Jesus walking across the water – Peter says if you wish, I could do it too – come! – walks but begins to sink – took his eyes off Jesus

-       Who do people say that I am? – Whom do YOU say I am – You are the Christ!

But now things have changed – Crucifixion, then an empty Tomb - they were told to go to Galilee – there they would see him.

There were 7 apostles there that day -  Peter says: I am going fishing

Strange - back to old ways – of course they caught nothing - without Christ!

Dawn had come – they hear a voice: Children - still spiritual children - have you caught anything to eat? You haven’t caught anything, have you?

Cast your net on the right side - do it his way - net full to the breaking point

153 fish - symbol of every species – St. Augustine: all nations

John - it is the Lord!

Peter - has no clothes on – strangely puts on clothes to jump in water

Adam - put on clothes after he sinned

Charcoal fire - last time - Peter denied him 3 times.

Come have breakfast - loaves & fish - Eucharist

Some unfinished business:

Simon son of John do you love me?   Agape – self giving

Unwilling to say - I love you – look what he did! You know that I love you  -  Philia – friendship   Feed lambs!

Once again – do you love me – agape?

You know that I love you – philia    Tend sheep!

Do you love me – philia – to his level, accept what he can give.

You know everything – you know well that I love you – philia   Feed sheep!

This has taken him from Galilee to Rome!

All has to do with Mercy – Peter committed a grave sin and denied Jesus.  Three times denied now three times forgiven!

Despite his failures, Peter was the first to visit empty tomb – first to preach Resurrection – first Pope – and on the Vatican hill he was crucified upside down – not worthy

Like Peter, we are all sinners – we are imperfect – we commit same sins over and over again – we do not always trust – we struggle with faith

And yet - If Jesus could do all that with him – he can do it for us!  And so, He says to each of us – FOLLOW ME!