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Morning Devotion
May 25, 2026
Reading: 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.’
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
Changes in leadership are always difficult to navigate, even for the most stable of them. The community of the disciples is in crisis and in need of a leader after death. Throughout John’s Gospel it has seemed that Peter might be Jesus’ successor. Perhaps this possibility finds legitimacy in Jesus’ questions to the community regarding Peter’s fitness to lead. Peter’s reputation has suffered greatly after denying Jesus three times. How could the disciples be expected to trust Peter to lead them, especially since Peter had pledged to follow Jesus to his death, even promising to die for Jesus’ sake?
What characteristics of Peter’s trustworthiness should the disciples consider? They should give thought to his ability to lead the community; his reputation and his selflessness. In any change in leadership what the departing leader has to say about his successor is vital. And Jesus weighs in here. He endorses Peter’s commitment to fulfill the promise Peter made to lay down his life for Jesus. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him and three times Peter proclaims his love for Jesus in his responses. These three affirmative answers should be seen as overcoming, if not cancelling out, the three denials that Peter issued earlier before Jesus’ crucifixion. He now enjoys recovered Integrity: Those disciples who are present to this inquiry of Peter now know that Peter will, indeed, fulfill this promise. The concluding verses deliver the very poignant foretelling of Peter’s debilitation and death. It is clear that this is, indeed the “laying down” of Peter’s life that Peter had earlier professed Acknowledging that this will not be much easier than the first time Peter was in such a situation, Jesus describes it as “where you do not wish to go”. The profound fulfillment of such an extravagant promise indicates that Peter will fulfill all the smaller (less consequential, but still important) obligations that will arise during his leadership. The only way for the community to know this is by means of Jesus’ intimate foretelling of Peter’s death; in this way, Jesus is “vouching” for Peter’s integrity.
Because John sees love as the root of profound risk-taking, perhaps the more cogent question is does Peter love Jesus enough to lead the community? Hence, the three love interrogations from Jesus matter greatly. Will Peter act out of self-interest, or love of Jesus and others? This component is so important that Jesus interrogates the depth of Peter’s loyalty and love before he vouches for him in the words of his prophecy. Out of love for Jesus, Peter’s self-interests will be overcome, and he will “go where he does not wish to go” in suffering death for the sake of the community.
This resurrection narrative provides a warrant, even a mandate, for self-appraisal. Trustworthiness is the indispensable foundation upon which organizational trust is built, and the effectiveness of anyone’s leadership is at stake. How do we rebuild trust in any of our institutions, including government, businesses, civic organizations and even churches? This requires judging the trustworthiness of others, but also cultivating our own trustworthiness.
Prayer for the Church
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church.Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing, it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it;; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ, thy Son our Savior Amen.
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