june 10th revisited: "follow me"

John 21:15-19


This past weekend I was on a retreat with young people so i was unable to keep up with the blog-o-sphere. So Iw anted to revisit some of the readings from this past weekend. THey are worth chewing on.

This past Friday we read from the end of the gospel of John.

What is interesting about the reading are the words of Christ to St. Peter. The last words spoken to St. Peter from the lips of christ according to John's gospel are a repeat of the first words Peter heard from the mouth of Christ, "follow me."


If you think all the words spoken by Christ to his disciples, to the scribes and pharisees, to the sick and poor, to the outcast and all the other unnamed faces Christ encountered, these words really are a summary of all the words, "follow me."

When we pray, we beg the Lord to respond or act in our life is not always asking us to follow him and let him lead. Is this not where trust and surrender begin to be the formative movement of the human heart to God.


Follow me.

Think about Peter for a moment. Think about what had all transpired from the first moment he heard those words to the last moment he heard those words. Think about all the living he experienced with Christ at his side.

Peter was there when Jesus walked on water; Peter was there when Jesus calmed the storm; Peter was there when the sick were healed, the eyes of the blind were open, the lame were commanded to walk and new spring was added in there step. Peter was there when the leprosy was cured and the dead were raised.

Peter was there when the insults and shouts were hurled at Christ. Peter heard the threats as the scribes and Pharisees wanted to stone JEsus. Peter was there on the mount of Beatitudes. Peter was there when the transfiguration occurred; Peter was there in the upper room.

Peter was there in the garden and witnessed the agony; slept through the agony. Peter was there for the arrest, the imprisonment; the abandonment. Peter was there when the rooster crowed and cross was carried. Peter saw the crucifixion and witnessed the death. Peter was there when the tomb was opened and JEsus was raised.

Peter was in the upper room when JEsus came showed his wounds. Peter was there.

Don't you think the words "follow me: took on a whole new meaning and force in his life.

JEsus was asking Peter not just follow anyone but rather to follow the one who had shown himself to be true.

IS this not what our hearts longs for. Do we not want to find true love? Has christ shown himself to be true and faithful.

Is not this only one worth following.

Follow me. These are the words that fill the heart of the disciple with courage, strength, and a desire to put one foot in front of the other and let oneself be led.

Follow me. These are the first and last words that a disciple needs to hear.