189. Friday after First Sunday after Easter.
O God, fill our heart with the love of Christ. Amen.
John 21, 15-19. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
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This surely is one of the grandest of gospel lessons. There is a wealth of edification in this colloquy between the Lord and Peter. There is a powerful appeal to the heart in the Lord’s question: “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” And what a loving reproof in the addition, “more than these?” The answer of Peter reveals to us the secret depths of his heart, especially when viewed in connection with his courageous declaration at Cedron. How much of instruction is there not in the connection between the Lord’s question, “lovest thou me?” and the direction, “feed my lambs!” The Savior preaches a great penitential sermon by his thrice repeated question addressed to “Simon, son of Jonas.” At the same time, the Lord is so lenient as to omit the words “more than these” from the second question; and in the third he substitutes another word for “love,” namely the one which Peter had used in making reply. There is a close relation between the humiliation of the apostle and his re-appointment as chief of the apostles. In the whole conversation the hearts meet and embrace each other in wonderful wise, with ever increasing tenderness. In the Lord we are impressed by the sublime love and wisdom of the divine teacher; and in Peter, by the humble, honest, reverent, and trusting spirit of the obedient disciple. How blessed thus to lay one’s soul at the feet of Jesus, and be taken into his embrace! But how solemn a warning in that which the Lord adds in regard to the trials which love must undergo in trouble and affliction and self-denial unto death! May the Spirit of God expound this to your heart, dear reader. I will only ask you above all to hear and answer the Lord’s question: “Lovest thou me?” This question is not addressed to Peter only. In his love the Lord addresses it to us all. If you could but apply it to your heart, you might by this means receive the greatest of all blessings, a soul filled with the love of God. “Lovest thou me?” the Lord asks you, because he loves you. If your dearest friend on earth speaks your name, so precious and sweet to him, and in tones of the most tender affection asks you: “Lovest thou me?” you rejoice in assuring him of your love, and the fire on the altar of your hearts burns the brighter. In the eternal love with which he desires to save your soul Jesus now asks you if you love him. You know that he does this because he loves you; you know that he prizes your love so highly that, in order to win it, he suffered death for you. Do you love him? Answer; answer at once! It is Jesus who asks: “Lovest thou me?” Blessed is he whose innermost heart is made to throb by this question, and who is able to make answer: “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” O, that all the world were so blest as to be able to reply: “Yes, my heart burns with love of thee, my Lord Jesus!” But, alas, the greater number would not speak true, if they made this answer. Unhappy they who do not love him! I hope that you, dear reader, know the penitent spirit of Peter, and that you have his humble and true answer in your heart: “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” Speak out as Peter did; answer the Lord honestly, and tell him that he has won your heart: then shall his love more and more become the very life of your soul.
We earnestly beseech thee, O God, and we cannot let thee go, except thou hear us: Give us a heart full of the love of Jesus. Amen.
Oh, grant that nothing in my soul
May dwell, but thy pure love alone!
Oh, may thy love possess me whole,
And be my treasure, and my crown!
Strange flames far from my heart remove;
May every act, word, thought, be love.