In today’s readings, Paul is about to face martyrdom, and Peter is given the task of caring for the flock Jesus is about to leave behind.

They were about to face the same struggles, Challenges, difficulties, pains and suffering that their master had suffered.

Paul strove to stay close to the Lord, He saw God’s faithfulness and protection.

He experienced Jesus’ love and mercy.

He saw all the people who had never heard the gospel and longed to share it with them.

 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Acts 25:13b-21

As they were to stay there several days,

Festus told the king about Paul's case, and said to him, "We have here, a man, whom Felix left as a prisoner. When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests, and the elders of the Jews, accused him, and asked me to sentence him. I told them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over a man, without giving him an opportunity to defend himself in front of his accusers. So they came, and I took my seat, without delay, on the tribunal, and sent for the man.

 

When the accusers had the floor, they did not accuse him of any of the crimes that I was led to think he had committed; instead, they quarreled with him, about religion, and about a certain Jesus, who has died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. I did not know what to do about this case, so I asked Paul if he wanted to go to Jerusalem, to be tried there. But Paul appealed, to be judged by the emperor. So I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar."

 

Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 21:15-19

After they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." And Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

A second time Jesus said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" And Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Look after my sheep." And a third time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

 

Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."

Jesus then said, "Feed my sheep! Truly, I say to you, when you were young, you put on your belt and walked where you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead you where you do not wish to go."

Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify God. And he added, "Follow me!"

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Reflection:

"The least and the lost."

Today's passage is about Jesus' dialogue with Simon Peter. Jesus asked Peter three times about Peter's love for him. If Peter does love Jesus, there must be a response. The first time that Peter answered in the affirmative, Jesus exhorted Peter to feed his lambs (arnia).

 

In the second time, the exhortation is to tend Jesus' sheep (probata). In the third time, the exhortation is to feed Jesus' sheep (probata). We may reflect on the priority of Jesus in as far as his mandate to Peter is concerned to feed and/or take care of Jesus' lambs and sheep. We may further reflect that the order of mentioning of the lambs and sheep appears to be purposive.

 

Jesus' mandate to Peter prioritizes the arnia or the lambs. Why? For Jesus, the little ones, the least, must be the ones to be prioritized. As Christians, we are called to participate in the mission entrusted by Jesus to Peter, which prioritizes the last, the least and the lost.