My dear brothers and sisters, failure has a way of locking us in a prison of guilt. No one knew this better than Simon Peter. Sitting by a c...
My dear brothers and sisters, failure has a way of locking us in a prison of guilt. No one knew this better than Simon Peter. Sitting by a charcoal fire on the shore of Galilee, he must have been vividly reminded of that other charcoal fire where, a few weeks earlier, he denied Jesus three times.
Instead of scolding or condemning him, Jesus meets Peter over breakfast and asks a single question three times: 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' With each answer, Peter's three-fold denial is gently dissolved, and he is beautifully Restored. Jesus shows us that our failures do not define us; our love for Him does. His mercy is always greater than our worst moments.
But restoration is never just for our own comfort; it always comes with a purpose. The moment Peter is healed, he is immediately Recommissioned. Jesus tells him, 'Feed my lambs... Tend my sheep.' Jesus trusts this broken, restored man with His most precious possession—His flock. Our past mistakes do not disqualify us from serving the Kingdom; rather, they make us compassionate instruments of God's grace.
Finally, Jesus reveals that this path will demand everything, hinting at the martyrdom Peter will face in his old age, ending with the ultimate command: 'Follow me.' Hearing this, Peter is Resolved. He is no longer the fearful disciple who ran away in the garden; he is now a steadfast shepherd ready to lay down his life.
We see this same resolution in the First Reading, where Paul remains a bold prisoner for Christ, completely unfazed by King Agrippa or Festus. Today, let us bring our own brokenness to the Lord, allow ourselves to be restored by His love, and stand resolved to follow Him wherever He leads. Amen.
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