Commentary
Follow Me
Today, we hear the final command given by Jesus in John’s
Gospel, “Follow me.”
The command was given to Peter.
It was Peter who denied knowing Jesus three times. But he was also the one who professes his
love for Jesus three times.
If we go back further, in John’s account of the first
encounter between Jesus and Simon, Jesus gave no invitation to Simon to follow
him. On that occasion, it was Andrew,
Simon’s brother, who introduced him to Jesus.
And all we heard was Jesus giving Simon the new name “Cephas (which is
translated Peter)” (Chapter 1: 40-42).
Obviously, Peter then joined Jesus.
Along the way, he heard Jesus describing himself as the good
shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (10: 11-17).
Moreover, the Good Shepherd, Jesus, lived out those words on
the cross, when he laid down his life for the sheep. [1]
Now, as Peter has been commissioned to care for the sheep, a
sinner as he is, he is invited to follow Jesus – to feed, to care for , and to
even lay down his life for the sheep.
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[1] Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of the Lord, Reflections on
the Gospel Readings Year C. Collegeville, MN. Liturgical Press, 1991;
p. 556.
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