It is lovers who sometimes fall into the paranoia of “do you love me?”, but in today’s Gospel (Jn 21:15-19), Jesus is not in the paranoia of a lover.
He is in the logic of someone who is helping a person he truly loves, Peter, to become aware of a truth that he will have to remember for the rest of his life: is love the driving force behind his mission?
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
It is as if Jesus were saying to Peter: “Is your only motivation for doing what you have to do solely out of love for me, simply because you love me? Do not seek other gratifications or motivations. Live only remembering that it is for my sake.”
This is a valuable indication not only for a consecrated person, but it is a valuable motivation for every baptized person: a Christian lives and faces things feeling strong only in the love of Christ.
And in the most difficult moments, he faces everything for the love of Christ.
That is why only after Jesus has engraved this conviction in Peter’s heart (he asks him three times!) can he also announce to him how he will die: “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.
Only after he has based everything on the logic of love can he also live serenely the logic of discipleship: “And having said this, he added, ‘Follow me.’”
