Maybe Easter Sunday was a time of renewal in Christ, our faith was strengthened and, now, here we are in the third week of Easter and are starting to run out of steam. Let us focus on two points in this Gospel: the meal and the mission.

The meal: We don’t know what they discussed with Jesus at that meal on the seashore. It must have reminded them of many meals they shared with Him in His earthly life, the meal on the mountainside after the multiplication of loaves, the meal at the house of Matthew with all those tax collectors, the Passover meals and, of course, that Last Supper when Jesus gave them a way. He would remain with them and then prayed for them. Now, here they were, after the Resurrection, and all that came back to them. Here was a second chance to renew their union with Christ!

At Mass, we renew our union with Christ. Each Mass is always a second chance to remember and revive our identity as disciples. That’s what Jesus did for the apostles at the seashore. And that is what He does for us at every Mass.

The Mission: Jesus takes Peter aside and asks the threefold question, “Do you love?” to reverse Peter’s threefold denial. A wonderful forgiveness is happening here. Peter would show that love not by mere words of love but by deeds of love by feeding the sheep and care for Christ’s flock. The task of caring for our brethren and the Church was not handed to Peter alone.

Jesus asks us: “Do you love me?” If we do, then after we finish our Eucharistic meal, we go and feed the needy—the unborn child, the frustrated teenager, the mentally handicapped and the lonely elderly. Like the apostles, everyone has been summoned by Jesus to extend God’s kingdom everywhere. We are called to care for a portion of that flock, a parish, a family, a spouse, an aging parent, people at work, those for whom the Lord is calling us to care now. Like Peter, we show our love for the Lord not by what we say but by caring for others, feeding their minds, souls and bodies.

Pope Francis was a successor of Peter who truly loved his sheep. Let’s imitate his simplicity and humility that we may be able to love the Lord and His poor sheep.

– Fr. Cosme