Friday, May 17, 2013

Homily: 7th Week of Easter - Friday - Do you love me?


On these last two weekdays of Easter, our Gospel passage comes from the epilogue and the very last chapter of John’s Gospel.  Saint John’s Gospel has often been called, “the Gospel of Love” for in it Saint John speaks of God’s love so many times.  It should be no surprise that the final story of the final chapter of his Gospel is a conversation about love.

The Easter Season began following the Paschal Triduum in which Jesus showed us the depths of his love, pouring himself out in the Eucharist and in humble service on Holy Thursday, pouring out his very blood in his Passion on Good Friday.  God’s love was shown to be more powerful than death itself, when Jesus Rose triumphant on Easter Sunday.  Hopefully, in the seven weeks of easter, each of you through prayer and witness have encounter God’s love in a more profound way. 

In the weeks following the Easter Season we celebrate liturgically the Solemnities of The Holy Trinity and the Body and Blood of Jesus and the Feast of the Sacred Heart—all celebrations of Love being part of God’s very nature, and how that love is poured out upon us.

The wonderful Gospel story this morning continues to show us the depth of God’s love.  Remember that Peter had denied Jesus three times, and three times Jesus offers Peter an opportunity to profess his love.  Jesus could have chosen another “more faithful” disciple to be the head of the apostles, but Jesus once again entrusts his lambs to Peter.  Whatever has happened in the past, whatever sins or failures, Jesus offers an opportunity to begin again, and his love for us is the starting point.

This Gospel  also reminds us that love of God requires more than lips service.  Jesus asks us, do you love me?  If you do, feed my sheep.  If we love Jesus, we will seek to feed others with His Word, by spreading his Gospel.

May we seek that life changing encounter with God’s love in prayer today, and may our love for God increase, that we may be ever faithful in his service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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