18 May 2018 – homily for Friday of the 7th week of Easter – John 21:15-19

   Jesus tells Peter that if he loves him, he will feed his sheep.  We use the word love in so many different ways in our modern world.  It is interesting that two different Greeks words are used for love in this Gospel passage. Agape is a love that seeks the highest good of others, not coming only out of emotions, but rather out of the person's mind, intellect, and being.  Agape is a caring love that is intimately involved in the needs of the other person, a love that does not depend upon being reciprocated or being earned.  Peter responds to Jesus with philia, a brotherly love that is born out of a close friendship. Peter is replying to our Lord that his loves him through the bond of a special friendship.  Jesus calls us to a bond of love beyond the special closeness of friendship.  As Jesus asks Peter to grow in his love, perhaps we should also grow in this love: in the way we love God and love others.  St John Chrysostom, an important Early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople, said that nothing can so make a person an imitator of Christ so as to care for and love his neighbor. Like Peter, may help the Lord feed his sheep.