Do you love me...

Acts 25:13-21; Psalm 103 The Lord has established his throne in heaven; John 21:15-19

Slowly as we have gone through this week we have begin to see the church turn toward Rome.  Paul in the Acts of the Apostles is slowly making his way to Rome as he appeals to Caesar.  

As a roman citizen, Paul had to the right to have his case heard by the Emperor. 

Rome is his destination. 

Into day's gospel we read the end of the gospel of John.  Jesus and Peter are standing on the beach.  Jesus ask Peter, "do you love me more than these?"

Three times Peter is asked and three times Jesus gives him a command, "Feed my sheep...tend my sheep...feed my sheep."

We begin to understand the primacy of Peter as head of the twelve more clearly and distinctly.  Peter is entrusted with the supreme leadership.

Just a note:  When Jesus ask Peter, "Do you love me...?"  Jesus uses the greek term, agape, which is considered to be God's love for man, sacrificial and heroic in every manner. 

When Peter responds, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you," Peter uses a different word for love.  Peter uses a greek word, philos, which is more or less a brotherly and affectionate love that might be better rendered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I like you." 

Peter becomes aware of his weak love.  He understands that he may not have what it takes to love fully and completely.  

Jesus in the third question, "do you love me?" actually uses the same word Peter uses in his response, Philos.  Jesus basically came down to Peter's level and ask, well Peter do you at least like me?

The beauty of the passage is that Jesus knows the love of Peter and chose to come down to his level.  Jesus meets us where we are and will strengthen and empower our love in time. 

How does our love become strength?  Simply put, "follow me."  Jesus reminds us as He reminds Peter, in following after him our weak love will be strengthen and our "like" will turn into true and authentic "love."

If you go to St. Peter's square in Vatican City, you will encounter a huge obelsik.  It is a 25 meter high piece of granite that weighs a million pounds.  It is believed to have been in the circus of the Emperor at the time of Paul and Peter in Rome.  Tradition tells us that it marked the spot where Peter was crucified upside down. 

It stands today as a silent witness to Peter's love being transformed from "philos" to "agape" from like to sacrificial love.  Crucified upside down, Peter could finally answer the question,"Peter, do you love me more than these?" with a resounding  "yes, Lord, you know everything you know that I love you."

Rome, as the place of martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul, today stands as a reminder of how grace can transform our weak love and make it strong.  This is why today Rome stands as the standard of authentic apostolic tradition. This is why the fullness of faith resides in the Roman Catholic Church.  The primacy of Peter sent forth to feed and tend the sheep is made complete in the eternal city where upon the cross upside down Peter was empowered to feed and tend with true and authentic love.

scripture quote to put to memory:

"and I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven."  Matthew 16:18-19