Friday of the Seventh Week after Easter, May 25,2007

Scripture: Acts 25:13b-21. Psalm 103:1-2,11-12, 19-20. John 21:15-19.
Lectionary # 301:

In front of the great basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, there
are two large statues of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter is identified by the
golden keys he holds, while Paul has a sword, the sword of the Word of
Truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can keep these images in mind as we
read today's narratives from the Acts and from Jesus' last words to Peter
in a Resurrection account. Paul is on the verge of being sent to Rome for
trial since he is now under Roman authorities as a Roman citizen who has
appealed to Rome. The tribunal dismissed his case some time ago for it was
a question not of Roman law but of Jewish law and rituals. In the Gospel,
Jesus is asking the question of Peter, "Do you love (agapan) me?" This is
responded to by Peter three times probably in atonement for his having
denied Jesus thrice. Then Jesus gives him a look into his own proximate
future and death by crucifixion. He is asked to "follow" Jesus. In the
questioning and the response that involves the key word "love", Jesus uses
the great total commitment of love through the word (agapan), while Peter
three times responds with the word of a friend's love (philein). Jesus
uses this word only in the last question he asks of Peter. Could it be
that Jesus reasons about love with Peter through the way Peter understands
"love"? There may be a difference intended by the Evangelist here, but not
necessarily. Fr. Bruce Vawter helps us to look at the differences this
way, "Two different verbs are used for "love" in this passage, but in John
they have been used consistently as synonyms; similarly probably no
distinction is intended in the use of the words "lambs" and "sheep."
Vawter then comments on Jesus' saying about the death of Peter, "This is
the oldest written attestation to the tradition of Peter's martyrdom by
crucifixion, an event well known to the Christians for whom this Gospel was
written." (Jerome Biblical Commentary, section 184, pages 465-466). So be
it. Amen. Alleluiah.