A reading from the gospel according to John 21:15-19:

15 After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he 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.
18 Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflection: Follow me

The gospel narrative above offers a profound moment of restoration and calling between Jesus and Peter. After the resurrection, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, mirroring Peter’s three denials. Each time Peter affirms his love, Jesus responds with a commission: “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” This dialogue culminates in a poignant call to Peter to follow Jesus, despite the cost it may entail.

This passage invites each of us to reflect on the nature of love, forgiveness, and commitment. It reminds us that our relationship with the Divine is not contingent on our perfection but on our willingness to love earnestly and to be restored when we falter. Jesus’ repeated questioning of Peter is not just a reaffirmation of Peter’s commitment but also a demonstration of His infinite grace, reminding us that we, too, are offered endless chances to start anew.

Moreover, the directive to care for His flock is a universal call to responsibility. It challenges us to nurture, guide, and protect those in our charge, whether they be our family, friends, community, or anyone who is vulnerable. This command underscores the principle that love is an active, serving, and sacrificial endeavor. Our love for others is demonstrated in our daily actions and decisions, reflecting our love for the Divine.

In our own journey, remember that every setback is a set-up for a comeback. Let us embrace the forgiveness that is freely given and extend it to others. May we be steadfast in our commitment to serve and love, even in the face of challenges. For in doing so, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus, propelled by faith and love and sustained by His grace.

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The resurrected Christ, standing on the shore of Galilee, turns to Peter—still stung by the shame of his threefold denial and offers not condemnation, but restoration.

“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

Three times Jesus asks, and three times Peter responds: “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” And with each response, Jesus commands: “Feed My lambs. Tend My sheep. Feed My sheep.”

This is not just a personal moment between Jesus and Peter; it is a message for all of us.

Grace Greater Than Failure
Peter had failed. He had walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, professed bold allegiance and yet, when it mattered most, he denied even knowing Him. Many of us know what it’s like to fail, to fall short of what we hoped to be, to betray our own values under pressure.

Yet Jesus doesn’t cast Peter aside. Instead, He draws Peter closer and gives him the chance to affirm his love—once for each denial. Jesus doesn’t erase Peter’s past; He redeems it. This is the heart of the gospel: your worst moment doesn’t have to be your final story. Christ meets you where you are, not to remind you of your shame but to restore your soul.

Love That Leads to Action
Notice how Jesus frames the question: not “Will you obey Me?” or “Will you serve Me?” but “Do you love Me?” The foundation of discipleship is love. True service springs not from obligation but from relationship. Jesus wants your heart, not just your hands.

But love must lead to action. Jesus doesn’t stop at the affirmation. He gives Peter a mission: “Feed My sheep.” To love Christ is to care for His people. To love Him is to serve, to protect, to lead, to nourish others with the truth and grace we’ve received.

This is your call, too. Whatever your past, whatever your present, if you love Jesus, you are called to serve. Not everyone is called to preach or pastor, but every believer is called to love and tend to others. In your home, your workplace, your community, there are people who need your compassion, your faith, your presence. Feeding sheep may look like encouraging a friend, mentoring a student, or simply being available to listen.

A Life of Purpose and Sacrifice

Jesus then tells Peter what this path will cost him. He speaks of Peter’s eventual martyrdom, the way his love and obedience will lead to suffering. It’s a sobering reminder: following Jesus is not always easy. It may lead you to places you wouldn’t choose on your own. But in that cost is great purpose.

“Follow Me.” These are the last words of the passage, and they echo the first words Jesus ever said to Peter. It’s as though He’s saying, “Let’s begin again.” No matter how far you’ve strayed, Jesus always invites you back into the journey.

So take heart. If you’ve failed, there is forgiveness. If you feel aimless, there is purpose. If you feel weak, there is strength. Jesus doesn’t just call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Like Peter, you are not defined by your denial, but by your response to His grace.

Say “yes” to His question: “Do you love Me?” and then, go feed His sheep. Then follow Him.

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Let us recall how Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. In the gospel reading above, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him! Three times Peter answered in the affirmative and Jesus told him to feed and care for His sheep. Then in verse 19, He asked Peter to follow Him.

Jesus is not someone who is insecure about the love of another but He wanted Peter to verbalize, that is to profess or affirm, his love for Him. He also wanted to show to Peter that His past failures do not matter anymore but his love for the Lord is what matters most. Jesus does not condemn. He restores and leads His sheep to greener pastures.

Surely Jesus wanted Peter to follow in His footsteps as a Good Shepherd who will now take over the leadership of His flock since Jesus is now going back to His Father. Since Peter has now professed his love for Jesus, he is no longer free to do what he wanted or go where he wanted. From now on, He is a “slave” of Jesus who is his Master. He is going to follow what his Master wanted him to do. His work is the work of his Master.

Let us remember too that in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He called Peter to become a fisher of men. It does not matter what his background is. He has been trained for three years. After Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit and when Peter was empowered, he took his mission seriously. Yet when he died, he was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as his master. That is Peter, the ordinary fisherman who was anointed to lead in the great mission of saving the world.

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Jesus is asking you the same question: Do you love me? May you have the same answer as Peter. God bless you.