May 22, 2015 Friday: 7th Week in Easter
May 22, 2015 Friday: 7th Week in Easter
"Do you love me?” This question reminds me of that heart-warming kitchen scene in the “Fiddler of the Roof” where the Jewish father of three daughters, Teyve, teases his wife Golde who has been married to him by parental arrangement for over 25 years. “Do you love me?” he asks with a sheepish grin. Golde brushes off the question as corny: “You’re upset, you’re worn out. Go inside, go lie down! Maybe it’s indigestion.” Undaunted, Teyve pursues his coquetry, hunting for some spark of passion: “Do you love me?” To which the good wife answers: “Do I love you? For twenty five years I’ve washed your clothes, cleaned your house, given you children, milked the cow. After twenty five years, why talk about love right now?”
“Do you love me?” The question posed by Jesus three times to Simon Peter gives no ironic hint at Peter’s betrayal. Instead Jesus rehabilitates him by drawing out courage, faith and leadership from him. Jesus chooses the fisherman Peter to shepherd the church. Overwhelmed by this forgiving trust, Peter resolves to recommit his entire life to disciples and pastoral leadership.
“Do you love me?” We may never have posed this question but God does presses us for an answer in our day to day living. Indeed, this is a crucial question that draws us to the heart of God and it compels us to give to Him our full commitments and our very lives. Certainly we can never outmatch God in love. He loves us first and our love for Him and for our neighbor is often a hesitant response to His exceeding graciousness. However, if we allow God’s love to transform and empower us, our daily crosses in the discipleship may yet become a resounding response: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” (Fr. Oliver Quilab, SVD Bible Diary 2007)
"Do you love me?” This question reminds me of that heart-warming kitchen scene in the “Fiddler of the Roof” where the Jewish father of three daughters, Teyve, teases his wife Golde who has been married to him by parental arrangement for over 25 years. “Do you love me?” he asks with a sheepish grin. Golde brushes off the question as corny: “You’re upset, you’re worn out. Go inside, go lie down! Maybe it’s indigestion.” Undaunted, Teyve pursues his coquetry, hunting for some spark of passion: “Do you love me?” To which the good wife answers: “Do I love you? For twenty five years I’ve washed your clothes, cleaned your house, given you children, milked the cow. After twenty five years, why talk about love right now?”
“Do you love me?” The question posed by Jesus three times to Simon Peter gives no ironic hint at Peter’s betrayal. Instead Jesus rehabilitates him by drawing out courage, faith and leadership from him. Jesus chooses the fisherman Peter to shepherd the church. Overwhelmed by this forgiving trust, Peter resolves to recommit his entire life to disciples and pastoral leadership.
“Do you love me?” We may never have posed this question but God does presses us for an answer in our day to day living. Indeed, this is a crucial question that draws us to the heart of God and it compels us to give to Him our full commitments and our very lives. Certainly we can never outmatch God in love. He loves us first and our love for Him and for our neighbor is often a hesitant response to His exceeding graciousness. However, if we allow God’s love to transform and empower us, our daily crosses in the discipleship may yet become a resounding response: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” (Fr. Oliver Quilab, SVD Bible Diary 2007)
