DO YOU LOVE ME? ~ CookingFood.Org

“RISEN WITH CHRIST”

Easter Reflections

Friday, 2^nd June 2017,

Seventh Week of Easter

Acts 25: 13-21;

Ps 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20 (R. 19);

Jn 21: 15-19.

DO YOU LOVE ME?

In the Greek language, there are different words that are translated ‘love’. Agape is the kind of love that is perfect and pure; selfless and active. Agape is looking out for the interest of the one being loved, putting them ahead of self. There is also a lesser kind of love phileo that would describe the affection that we might have for a friend.

Jesus said to Simon Peter the first two times, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) you.” How could Peter say clearly, I love (agape) you, after he had so miserably failed him? Jesus asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) me?” (notice that the Lord changed the word from agape to phileo). Peter was “grieved” not because Jesus asked him a third time, but because Jesus lowered the standard. We can only imagine the heartbreak Peter was feeling. Before fear and isolation enveloped Peter during the crucifixion he would have boldly said, “Lord, how could you ask such a thing? Of course I love (agape) you!” But his actions showed how miserably he failed to agape the Lord. He even denied friendship (phileo) with the Lord! Now he is truly “grieved” as he comes face-to-face with the Lord and what he has done.

What does this mean for you and me? When you tell God that you love Him, how deep does that go? Is your love of God something that you mean to the fullest extent? Certainly we all need to work on our love, and that is why this passage should be so significant to us. This triple question also gives us the opportunity to express our deepest longing for His mercy. We all sin. We all deny Jesus in one way or another. But the good news is that Jesus is always inviting us to let our sin be a motivation for deepening our love. He doesn’t sit and stay angry at us. But He does ask for the deepest of sorrow and a complete conversion of heart. He wants us to turn from our sin to the fullest extent. Make a choice to express your love for God in deep, sincere and irrevocable way. The Lord will receive this heartfelt act and return it to you a hundredfold.

Prayer: Lord, You do know that I love You. You also know how weak I am. Let me hear Your invitation to express my love for You and my desire for Your mercy. May I offer this love and desire to the fullest extent. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.