＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 2513b-21

Some days later King Agrippa

and his sister Bernice arrived in Cae­sarea to greet Fes­tus. As they were to stay there several days, Festus told the king about Paul’s case and said to him,  “We have here a man whom Felix left as a prisoner.

 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews accused him and asked me to sentence him. I told them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over a man without giving him an opportunity to defend himself in front of his accusers. 

So they came and I took my seat without delay on the tribunal and sent for the man.  When the accusers had the floor, they did not accuse him of any of the crimes that I was led to think he had committed; instead they quarreled with him about religion and about a certain Jesus who has died but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

I did not know what to do about this case, so I asked Paul if he wanted to go to Jerusalem to be tried there. But Paul appealed to be judged by the emperor. So I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.”

 

Ps 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab

The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 21:15-19

After they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Si­mon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Look after my sheep.” And a third time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep. Truly, I say to you, when you were young you put on your belt and walked where you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will put a belt around you and lead you where you do not wish to go.”

 Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify God. And he added, “Follow me.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

There is so much power, beauty, but also poignancy in today’s readings. Paul is about to face martyrdom, and Peter is given the task of caring for the flock Jesus is about to leave behind.

These men, giants of the early Church, builders of the early Christian community that continues to this day, were about to face the same struggles. Challenges, difficulties, pains and suffering that their master had suffered.

And while there is a tinge of sadness that is detectable in the readings, there is also the power of Christ’s enduring presence in the lives of these men. St. Augustine says that nothing in this life is perfect, and that even the most beautiful experiences we have are always tinged with sadness, suffering and pain.

And yet for the Christian, the knowledge that his Savior lives, and that this too is the destiny that awaits him, is more than enough to transform the deepest of sorrows into the greatest of joys.