4.3 Commitment
STAGE 4: Towards the Likeness of Jesus Christ
JESUS AND LOVE
THE CAPTIVATING HEART
COMMITMENT
Aim: Committing ourselves to reciprocate the love of Jesus, as best we can, with our mind, heart and strength.
Reading
The heart of Peter responding to Jesus’ love (Jn 21:15-17): When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you”. Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs”. A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you”. Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep”. He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the 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”.
Comment
In our venture of love, we are not expected to start off in long strides but to keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, as we gradually learn to walk in his ways, speak the language of love, and practice the work of love. In this regard, we can draw inspiration from the experience of Peter in dialogue with his Master, the Risen Lord.
In Jn 21:15-17 Jesus takes Peter aside. The last time they had seen each other was in the house of Caiaphas. And now they enter into one of the most fascinating dialogues ever recorded in literature. We hear three questions, like the evening of the three great denials in the courtyard of Caiaphas. But now Jesus does not reprimand or accuse Peter. He does not take people by their sins but by their heart: “Peter, do you love me?”
Note that, in the original text, the three questions of Jesus are not all the same; they vary according to what’s going on in the heart of Peter. Jesus pays attention to the heart of Peter and moves along with his feelings. And so, the first question: “Do you love me more than these others?” Peter answers by saying yes and no at the same time. He knows he cannot compete with “the others”, but neither does he comply with the real terms of the question. In fact, whereas Jesus uses a very rare verb, the sublime verb of absolute love – do you love me? – Peter answers instead with a very humble and unpretentious verb, something pointing more to “friendliness” than to deep love: “Yes, Lord, you know that I like you”.
And here comes the second question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Jesus understands the difficulty of Peter and this time he asks much less of him: he doesn’t ask whether he loves him “more than the others” – he does not compare him with the others – but still he addresses him with the verb of absolute love: “Do you love me?” Peter’s answer reveals that, even this second time, he hasn’t really understood the question; in fact, he uses again his own verb, more descriptive of his limits, yet so human and so similar to our own level: “Lord, I’m your friend; you know that I like you!” He doesn’t dare speak of in-depth love, but remains at the level of friendliness and affection.
In the third question, it is Jesus who changes the verb; he stoops down and comes closer to Peter’s insecure heart; he respects Peter’s limits and, in his question, he uses his own verb: “Peter, do you like me?” If asking for love is too much for you, then may I ask for some affection? If love is too scary for you, then may I ask at least that we make and stay friends? Jesus proves his love by lowering three times the level of his expectations, by slowing down his speed to the step of his disciple, to Peter’s level, to the measure of affection he can afford, to the rhythm of his heart. Jesus’ attitude shows that the level of Peter’s ability to love becomes more important than his own expectations.
This is the humility of Jesus, in the face of our human frailty! This is real love! The story of Peter is somewhat like our Christian life: we may feel very frail, but if we love with sincerity – no matter how deep or shallow is the level of our love, today – tomorrow we will be able to move higher and beyond.
Personal Reflection and Sharing
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort maintains that, “when the Holy Spirit finds Mary in a soul, he hastens there and enters fully into that soul” (TD 36). Then, the same Spirit “leads that soul from strength to strength, from grace to grace, from light to light, until at length that soul attains transformation into Jesus in the fullness of his age on earth and of his glory in heaven” (TD 119).
How does the presence of Mary, today, help me to confidently commit myself to loving God and my neighbour in the likeness of Jesus?
[4-3] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER