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Sunday Reflections
First Reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41
Second Reading: Revelation 5:11-14
Gospel: John 21.1-19 – Jesus Appears on the Beach
Learning to Truly Love Christ
In the Gospel this Sunday we’re called to reflect on the rich and important exchange where Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Firstly, it is important to note the original translation of this passage. The first time Jesus asks Peter he uses the word “agape,” which is an unconditional, self-sacrificial love. The same type of love that Jesus has for us.
However, in Peter’s response he uses the word “philia,” which is the love between friends. Although philia is still beautiful, it isn’t raised to the same heights of agape. This same exchange of agape and philia occurs the second time Jesus asks Peter.
However, when Jesus asks the third time, it is He who uses the word philia, asking Peter if he can love Him as a friend. This is why it says Peter felt hurt, because it seemed like Jesus lowered the standard for the type of love Peter was called to. However, the beautiful reality is that Jesus instead understands and meets Peter at the level of love he’s currently comfortable with. Yet Jesus doesn’t desire Peter to remain at that level. He goes on to foretell the kind of death he would one day suffer, signifying that He would one day be able to love Jesus agape. Jesus does the same in the lives of all of His stewards. He desires all of us to love Him unconditionally, yet He meets us where we currently are and helps us to slowly advance in love. Let us always seek to love Christ and His Church and pray this simple prayer, “Jesus I love you, help me to love you more each day.”
Summary
When Jesus first asks Peter if he loves Him, he uses the term “agape,” signifying an unconditional love, to which Peter replies, “philia,” the love of friends. However, by the third time it is Jesus who asks Peter if he will love him philia, which, rather than an insult, is the beautiful reality that Jesus meets Peter where he currently is. So too in our lives, Jesus accepts the current level of love we’re comfortable with, but like Peter, He slowly desires and leads us to embrace a deeper way of loving Him and the Church.
