Today is May 4, the Third Sunday of Easter.
We read at today’s Mass, “Jesus said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.'”
Greetings from Rome! I continue to be here for the historic and deeply moving days surrounding the funeral of Pope Francis. I had the extraordinary privilege of praying before the Holy Father’s body during the viewing and then concelebrating the funeral Mass on behalf of you, the faithful readers and listeners of “My Daily Visitor.”
Now, the Church enters a moment of profound significance. The College of Cardinals has begun to gather, discerning who will be chosen to step into the shoes of the fisherman — to become the next successor of St. Peter, to take up this weighty and beautiful ministry in the life of the Church.
Today’s Gospel offers us one of the most powerful episodes in all of Scripture, especially as we pray for our next pope. We hear Jesus ask Simon Peter, not once, but three times: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter is distressed that the question is repeated. But he replies with trust: “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” And Jesus says to him, “Feed my sheep.”
‘Feed my sheep’
This moment is etched into the heart of every priest and bishop. In fact, in my home diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, the bishop’s chair — the cathedra — bears this very Scripture. Above the seat in our Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception are carved the words, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.”
The Greek words in this passage reveal a deep emotional resonance. Twice, Jesus uses the word agape — a word that means the highest, most sacrificial form of divine love. But Peter answers with philia, the love of a friend or brother. Finally, Jesus meets Peter where he is and asks: “Do you love me with philia?” And Peter says, “Yes, Lord.”
It’s a profoundly healing moment. As we know, Peter had denied Jesus three times. Now he confesses his love three times. St. Augustine reflected on this, saying, “To the threefold denial is now appended a threefold confession, that his tongue may not yield a feebler service to love than to fear.” Augustine adds, “Let it be the office of love to feed the Lord’s flock.”
Praying for the next pope
This is what we pray for throughout these days — for the one who will love the Lord with a shepherd’s heart. As George Weigel recently said in an OSV News interview, “The first challenge for the next pope, as for any pope, is to be a vital, credible, compelling witness to Jesus Christ in his own person.”
So let us pray today for the Cardinals and for the man who will become our next Holy Father — that he may be a disciple, someone who knows what it is to love the Lord, who has heard Jesus’ command, “Feed my sheep,” and lives it with conviction.
Let us pray,
May your people exult for ever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
