Feed And Tend

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 

He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered 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.” (John 21:15-19)

Peter denied Jesus three times when he was accused of being a follower of Jesus.  Peter is redeemed, so to speak, by John who has Peter say “Lord, you know that I love you” three times.  

Most of us make some pretty bad mistakes we would like erased – expunged from the record.  Perhaps an effective way to accomplish this redacting is to feed and tend Jesus’ sheep and lambs.  In other words, we make amends by reaching out and helping others in need of love and attention.  Compassion, empathy, and love are the best erasers.

Deacon David Pierce