Reflections on Scripture | Memorial of Saint Philip Neri

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 21:15-19

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."
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."
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.
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."
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

The image of the Good Shepherd is an image of the way Jesus has worked in the world and how we are to work in the world. We are to feed and to tend. In feeding is to give them information, to reveal the truth as is revealed through Christ.

But there's also the work of tending. And tending is different than teaching. It's a way of being close to listening to where someone is so that we know where their pain is and what they need to know and what they don't know. And then we continue to feed. It’s a beautiful image of the way God works with us, and the way we're invited to work with each other.

Closing Prayer

Father, there's no way that we can share your message with those that we love without entering fully into their experience of their life. Give us an openness, a nonjudgmental spirit as we listen to each other and learn where we struggle and learn how to speak the word of God to that struggle. It's a gift you've given us. It's a responsibility we have to use that gift for the good of those around us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflections Archives

Kyle Cross