NOT JUST ANYONE WILL DO
After eating with his friends on the shore of the lake, Jesus begins a conversion with Peter. The dialogue has been carefully worked, since it has as objective to remember something of great importance for the Christian community: among Jesus’ followers, someone is only empowered to be guide and pastor who is distinguished by their love for him.
There has been no occasion in which Peter hasn’t shown his complete adhesion to Jesus above all the rest. Yet in the moment of truth, he’s the first to deny him. Is his adhesion true? Can he be guide and pastor of Jesus’ followers?
Before entrusting him with his «flock», Jesus asks him a fundamental question: «Do you love me more than these?» He doesn’t ask him: «Do you feel strong enough? Do you know my doctrine well enough? Do you see yourself empowered enough to govern my people?» No. It’s the love for Jesus that empowers to encourage, guide and feed his followers, as he has done.
Peter responds humbly and without comparing himself to anyone: «You know that I love you». But Jesus repeats his question twice more, each time more incisively: «Do you love me? Do you truly love me?» Peter’s insecurity keeps growing. Each time he’s less daring in proclaiming his connection. By the end he’s full of sadness. Now he doesn’t know how to respond: «You know everything».
To the extent that Peter goes about becoming conscious of the importance of love, Jesus goes about entrusting his flock to him to care for, feed, and communicate life to his followers, beginning with the smallest and most in need: the «lambs».
Frequently the hierarchy and pastors are only seen as empowered to govern with authority and preach the truth with assurance. Yet there are adhesions to Christ, firm, secure and absolute, that, being empty of love, don’t empower to care for and guide Jesus’ followers.
Few factors are more decisive for the conversion of the Church than the conversion of the hierarchy, bishops, priests, and religious leaders to loving Jesus. We are the first who must hear his question: «Do you love me more than these? Do you love my lambs and my sheep?»
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
