Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter
(Apr 22, 2007)
Do
you love me? It seems important for Jesus to know whether Peter
really loves him?
I think Jesus is asking each one of us the same question?
Do you love me?
When Peter, quickly says
– well sure Lord, I love you; Jesus pushes his further: I mean do you
love me more than these. Do
you love me not just as one of the gang; one of the disciples? Do you
love me in a special way? Or
maybe Jesus is asking Peter—do you love me more than fishing? More
than your boat? More than a beautiful night out on the lake?
Do you love me more than all of these?
The Lord
Jesus wants to know if I really love him, or if
I just say it because I am supposed to
It has to be more than words
When a husband or wife asks
the question: Do you love me, you may be asking things like:
Do you love me or do you just like to keep me around for
the things I can do for you?
or
Do you love me more than you
love your job; more than sports? More than your entertainment?
Do I say that I love God
just because of what God can do for me? A few weeks ago I talked about
moving If God is really my
friend I will love God enough to share my life, my dreams and my fears.
Do you
share your deepest thoughts and question with God?
Do
you have a friend you love and trust enough to share your deepest
thoughts and questions with?
Last summer Ellen
Goodman wrote an article titled FRIENDLESS IN
AMERICA
. It was based on a survey done by a Duke Sociologist in 2004. The
survey found that one-fourth of all Americans have nobody to talk about
“important matters” – which is double the number in l985.
An additional one-fourth had only one person with whom they could
discuss important matters. Ellen concluded that our social safety net is
shrinking. Many people have no relatives or friends beyond their
immediate family with whom they share deeply. Many people have no one.
So without friends they outsource their intimacy needs to therapists or
by going in front of Maury, Dr Phil, or
Oprah to share their personal issues on TV. Or they tell
someone on a chat line more than they would ever tell
their husband or wife.
Without love in your
marriage it will be very difficult for you to really love
Jesus Christ
If you don’t have a real friend on this earth how can you
become a friend of Jesus Christ.
But the more you come to love Christ, the more Jesus will call
you to share that love with others.
Each time Peter takes a step in loving Jesus, Jesus calls him to
share that love. If you
really love me, then feed my lambs; feed my sheep.
Story: When detective Skip
Mannain investigated the hit and run accident in which Jaime Gil Tenorio
was killed, detective Mannain went beyond the call of duty. He found out
that the victim had tended lawns in
New York
to support his wife and four children in
Mexico
. When he contacted the grieving family he found that their love for
Jaime was so strong they could not stand to think of his body far away.
They wanted to be able to visit the grave of their father and husband.
Detective Mannain was so moved by their love for Jaime that he solicited
enough support from local churches and neighbors to have the man’s
body sent home, with money left over to help Jaime’s family.
If you love me, take care
of my Sheep.
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