May the Lord give you peace and happiness.
It is 17th May 2024.
We reflect on Acts 25:13-21 and John 21:15-19.
Jesus asks the very same question to us personally, “Do you love me more than these others do? (Jn.21:15). What would be the answer from us?
Life is unfair to many of us. Yet God is always fair and faithful.
God alone offers truth and justice to all of us no matter whoever wants to destroy us.
Some of us are accused and blamed for having said the truth or for standing for the conviction of knowing the truth.
The perceptions of the world are so limited and selfish with some secret agenda of their own making in defending the lies as the truth.
Most of the times, the people of lies and pretentions look so appealing and innocent outwardly and we go for such people supporting and destroying the truth or the one who tells or stands for truth.
Let us give chance for truth to be told and be proclaimed. In the first reading, St. Paul is facing a trial for a person who has changed his life course of direction.
He was convinced that Jesus was living while the group of Jews argued the opposite. “Instead, they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.” (Acts.25:19).
In every circumstance of our lives, God entrusts us with the responsibility to stand for truth and to share the truth with those who would listen to the truth in a manner that is open and just.
Let us not be afraid to take up the responsibility in spreading the truth that Jesus is alive today.
In the Gospel, Jesus singled out Peter and entrusted him with the responsibility of shepherding those who believe in the Lord.
Peter having experienced the moments of the passion, death, resurrection of Jesus, now facing the Risen Lord one on one.
Jesus before entrusting the highest responsibility of looking after the Church, He enquired him about how much Peter loved Him.
Jesus wanted a public confession from Peter not to disgrace him but to restore his confidence and conviction in Him.
Jesus invited Peter to experience the reconciliation that comes out of the authentic repentance and to assure him that Jesus cares for him and loves him as much he loves Jesus.
Peter having denied Jesus three times openly out of fear for his own life now affirms publicly with his deep love for Jesus is real and not emotional.
Jesus bestowed Peter with the office as supreme shepherd of Christ.
May you have a good day. God bless you.