Daily Scripture

When they had finished breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the 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.’ (John 21.15-17)

Daily Reflection

The night that Jesus was arrested a terrified Peter had three times vehemently denied that he even knew him. Sitting together now at the lakeside, Jesus does not reproach Peter, but gives him the chance to reaffirm his love, mercifully wiping out the memory of his threefold denial by a threefold declaration of love.

We have all, at one time or another, said or done things which we deeply regret. We have let people down, but perhaps even worse is the knowledge that we have let ourselves down. Like Peter, we cannot undo what is done; but God, whose whole nature is love, does not dwell on our past failures, but restores us, as he did Peter, to a life of renewed love and service.

Revd Rosemary