It is easy for us to say "I love you," but how many of us truly mean what we say? Do we say "I love you" but our actual meaning is merely "I like you," or are the words "I love you" sincere and genuine? Would we be willing to love till it hurts, even to the point of death? For example, if someone is in grave danger and we are in a position to rescue the person, but in doing so we ourselves may end up dead, would we go ahead and attempt the rescue?
In today's Gospel, Jesus asked Peter 3 times whether Peter loved Him.
Peter had denied knowing Jesus when Jesus was on trial, but Jesus did
not hold that against him. Instead, Jesus helped Peter come
to terms with what it really means to love. Love is not just words
but requires action, and in the case of Peter, Jesus had entrusted the care
of His sheep to him. Not only that, Jesus reminded Peter: "I tell you
most solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked
where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands,
and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would
rather not go." This shows that ultimately, Peter would be expected to
love till it hurts, to love even to the point of death.
What about us? Do we really know the meaning of the words "I love you" after all? Are we willing to love even to the point of death? May we truly love and give our all, and show what it really means to be a Christian by our love.
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