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Gospel: John 21: 1-19
After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So, they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
So, he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So, they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time. Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a 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.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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We continue our parish pilgrimage through the Holy Land. Today Mass is being celebrated at the Church of the Primacy of Peter, where Jesus named Peter the leader of the Apostles, the “rock” of the Church.
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“Do you love me?”
This is the most important question God has ever asked human beings, really the only one that matters: “Do you love me?”
“Lord, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!” Peter says.
“Lord, Lord.”
In Latin, “Domine, Domine.”
It’s from the Latin word, Domine, that we have the English word, “dominate.”
“Lord, Lord.” … “Domine, Domine.” … “Dominate.”
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It sounds strange for Peter to say to Jesus, in so many words, “Lord, dominate.”
But to “dominate” means to be the central cause or reason behind an action. What Peter is saying to Jesus, then, is that Jesus is the very center of his life.
Peter will prove this three decades from now when he offers his life for his sheep, as the Lord asks him to do. But feeling unworthy to die like his Master, Peter will ask his executioners to crucify him upside down, a reminder of how unworthy he felt.
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We are all gathered here on the shores of Galilee to say with Peter, “Lord, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you! You are the center of my life.”
In what ways do we show Christ that he is the center of our life?
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As we continue our journey together, may Peter pray for us, that we’d have the same courage to follow Jesus, even to the point of offering our lives.
“Lord, Lord, Domine, Domine…You know everything. You know that I love you. You are the center of my life.”
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Image Credits: (1) The Delivery of the Keys to Saint Peter, Perugino (2) Church of the Primacy of Peter, America Magazine (3)