First Reading • Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41
Psalm • Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
Second Reading • Revelation 5:11-14
Gospel • John 21:1-19
Several times in the gospels, Peter, James, and John are singled out by Jesus. For instance, when Jesus raises a young girl from the dead, it is only Peter, James, and John that He takes along with Him.
Only those three apostles went up the mountain with Him when He was transfigured in glory. And it was only Peter, James, and John whom Jesus chose to pray with Him on the Mount of Olives before He was arrested.
Why did Jesus single out these three apostles from the other twelve?
Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote that Jesus singled out James because he would be the first apostle to die for the faith.
He selected John because he was the apostle Jesus loved the most. Finally, Saint Thomas Aquinas believed that the reason Jesus singled out Peter was because none of the apostles loved Jesus as much as Peter did.
It is Peter’s love for Jesus that we read about in today’s gospel. Before Jesus rose from the dead, Peter made a bold profession of faith – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mt 16:16).
In today’s gospel, after Jesus has risen from the dead, Peter professes his love for Jesus. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (Jn 21:17).
Just as Peter denied Him three times, he now expresses his love for Jesus three times. Nowhere else in the gospel do we hear any other apostle say “I love you” to Jesus – not even John. That is because no one loved Jesus as much as Peter did.
So, if we want to love Jesus, we should look to Saint Peter, more than any other apostle, to be our example.
One way that Saint Peter gives us an example of what it means to love Jesus is by how quick he is to do everything that Jesus asks him.
That is especially true when they’re on a boat. When Jesus first met Peter, He got right in his boat and told him to put out into the deep water. Peter didn’t ask any questions. He just did it.
And in today’s gospel, even though Peter had been fishing all night, he threw out his nets one more time when Jesus told him to. Finally, in today’s first reading, Peter says, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Saint Peter showed his love for Jesus by obeying Him.
The same must be true for us. We cannot say that we love Jesus and at the same time disobey Him. If we truly love Him, then we will follow everything He tells us whether it is directly in the Bible or through the Church which He founded.
Just as children show love by obeying their parents, so we must show our love for God by obeying Him. As Jesus said at the Last Supper, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15).
Another way that Saint Peter shows his love for Jesus is by how quick he is to run to Jesus when he recognizes Him. He cannot wait until the boat is brought to shore. Instead, he is so eager to be with Jesus that he jumps right into the water and swims to Him. His love for Jesus is so strong that he cannot bear to be away from Him.
We show our love for Jesus by rushing to meet Him whenever we have a chance. That means making Sunday Mass a priority. If we love Jesus, nothing will get in the way of us coming to receive Him in the Eucharist.
We will schedule our whole weekend around getting to Mass. That also means that we will make time everyday for prayer. Just as Saint Peter jumped at the chance to be with Jesus, we must do the same.
When Saint Peter told Jesus that he loved Him, Jesus replied “feed my lambs” and “tend my sheep.” From then on, Saint Peter showed his love for Jesus by serving God’s people.
In the same way, we must show our love for Jesus by serving others. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God. If we love God, it makes sense that we will love everyone made in His image and likeness. All of us who claim to love Jesus must express that love in service to others – the lambs and sheep of God’s flock.
Finally, Saint Peter showed his love for Jesus by being willing to die for Him.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for a friend” (Jn 15:13). And in today’s gospel, Jesus told Peter that he would die.
Down through the centuries, there have been many people, like Saint Peter, who loved Jesus enough to give their lives for Him. They are the greatest among the saints because they showed the greatest love.
The one who once denied Jesus three times, was able to overcome his fears through love. If we are quick to love Jesus, we will also be able to overcome our own fears and follow Him wherever He will lead us.
