Friday 17 May 2024

Today is Friday 17th May, in the 7th week of Eastertide.

In today's passage, Simon Peter is given the opportunity to tell Jesus that he loves him three times. As you hear Steffany Gretzinger singing, ‘I Love You, Lord’, can you make these words your own?

I love You, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
May it be a sweet
Sweet sound in Your ear
I love You, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
May it be a sweet
Sweet sound in Your ear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear



Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 21:15-19

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. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’

Very slowly try to picture the scene in your mind's eye. They have finished breakfast. What do you see? What sounds do you hear? What do you smell? What is the feel of the ground that you are standing or sitting on? How hot or cold are you?

They have finished breakfast, and Jesus turns to speak to Simon Peter. Where are you in the scene?

When you hear those words by Jesus, "Do you love me more than these?", how do those words affect you as you hear them?

When you hear it again and again, what, if anything, swells up in you?

How do you wish to respond to hearing, "Follow me"?

Try, if you can, to speak with Jesus as one friend would with another. Would you like to just be in his company, or you would like to say something? Have that time with him.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.