June 29, 2025.
“After dinner, Jesus appeared to his disciples and said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ Peter answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’” (Mt 9, 12-13)
The triple interrogation the Lord asks Saint Peter is an opportunity for the apostle to recant his triple denial on the night of Holy Thursday. But the most important thing is that Jesus asks him about his love, not his faith. He could have said, “Simon, you have faith in me,” and instead, he asks him if he loves him. The Lord already knows that Saint Peter has faith, because this scene takes place after the resurrection. He also knows that he loves him, but it is necessary not only to tell him so, but also for him to understand that the task he has entrusted to him by appointing him his vicar is linked to that love. One could work in evangelization, as one works in a company, without having any affection for that company—in this case, with no affection or minimal affection for God. But the Lord does not want that from his evangelizers. He does not want, above all, their time, their effort, their preparation, and their qualities; He wants, above all, their love. He will only ask for help from those who are his friends, those who love him, because he knows that only they can be trusted, only they will be his good collaborators, collaborators of the Good Shepherd.
There is also another lesson. Jesus doesn’t tell Peter: “Feed your sheep,” but rather, “Feed my sheep.” He and only He is the owner of the flock. Neither Peter, nor the Pope, nor the bishop, nor the priest, nor the catechist, nor even the father or mother, owns the children of God. We are merely caretakers of these children, and we must do so with the awareness that they do not belong to us, but are the property of God. Therefore, because they are God’s, we must care for them as God wants; we must teach them what God wants us to teach them and not our own personal opinions. Because we love, we evangelize, and because we love, we do it as God wants us to.
Intentions: Pray before evangelizing to increase your love for Christ and make sure you do it for Him and as He wants you to do it, faithfully transmitting His teachings.