7 of 7 · After he has found you.
Do you love me?
You may have sworn you would never fail him, and then failed him. Peter did. The risen Jesus does not humiliate him with the courtyard. He asks for love — the love that includes turning back. Three times, to the one who denied him: Do you love me?
That is the question he is asking you. Not whether you understand the whole story. Whether you love him. Peter’s office is Peter’s. Your yes is still a sending: toward the people he loves.
Jn 21:15-19
John 21:15–19
15So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?”
16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?”
17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?”
18Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
19Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
“That which most of all attracts the Divine love is care and love for our neighbor. Our Lord passing by the rest, addresses this command to Peter: he being the chief of the Apostles, the mouth of the disciples, and head of the college. Our Lord remembers no more his sin in denying Him, or brings that as a charge against him, but commits to him at once the superintendence over his brethren.”