Gospel: John 21:15-19
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Peg C’s Intentions.
Reflection:
In the 1920s Mexico’s anti-Catholic government outlawed public worship outside the church. It also had Catholic schools closed, denied the Church having properties, and made wearing a clerical attire a crime. These oppressive measures were met with a three-year uprising by the peasants, the Cristeros. Their slogan was “Long live Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!” Thousands of them were put down by the military. During this time, St Christopher Magallanes, a Mexican priest, along with 24 other priests and laymen, preached and taught in rural areas. Despite persecution, these martyrs did not resort to violence. Between 1915 and 1937, they were abducted, tortured, and killed.
Such martyrdom reflects St Peter’s three-fold profession of love to Jesus in today’s Gospel. On the night when Jesus was betrayed, St Peter denied Him not once, not twice, but thrice. Today’s Gospel was Jesus’ way of opening the door of Mercy for St Peter to come through. Indeed, St Peter entered in, renewing his love for the Lord, and ultimately offering his life by dying on the cross upside down. Following Jesus does not assure us of an easy life ahead. Peter, as well as Christopher of Magallanes and companions endured persecution of all sorts in their ministry. Like Jesus, they did not retaliate with hatred, but with love. “The one place necessary to live is love; from that height we ought, indeed, to say: It is wonderful for us to be here.” (Servant of God Luis Maria Martinez). Inspired by their witnessing to love, let us glorify God by how we bear witness to our Christian faith!
- “I am innocent, and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico”. (St Christopher Magallanes). How do you deal with violence, especially if you or someone in your family experience this?
- How does repeating the words “I love you” to someone make you a better person?
- How does your life give glory to God?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Through the prayers and example of St Christopher Magallanes and companion martyrs, let our every thought, word, and action be an expression of our love for You. Amen.
(Pietro)
