The Love of Peter (1)

"Lord, you know that I love you." John 21: 15, 16, 17

During all the years he followed Jesus, Peter was fiery, boiling, self-confident, perhaps sometimes unthinking, responding too quickly to questions that surpass him ; But above all he showed a remarkable love for his Master ... No one can doubt that he deeply loved the Lord ... and he was fully aware of it !

While he was fishing with his brother Andrew on the Sea of ​​Galilee, Jesus asked them to follow him. They do not hesitate a second, do not look back and follow suit. Peter later said : "We have left everything and followed you" (Mark 10:28).

His love is deep and it is in all sincerity that he declares : "Lord, with you I am ready to go and in prison and to death" (Luke 22:33). At the moment when he uttered these words, he probably did not realize what he said ; It is his love for Jesus that drives him to articulate them. He is firmly convinced that he can keep that promise. When Jesus announces to his disciples that he must go up to Jerusalem to suffer, to be rejected and to die, it is still his love that drives Peter to declare : "Lord, God forbid, it will never happen to you" (Matt 16:22).

On the Mount of Transfiguration, he sees his Master speaking with Moses and Elijah. In a totally unthinking way, he said : "It is good that we are here ; Let us make three tents : one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah" (Mark 9: 5). He puts his Master on the same level as his interlocutors, certainly; But he wants to take care of the one he loves and extend this exceptional moment with him.

On the night of Gethsemane, a bellicose troop came to seize Jesus ; It was still Peter who had a sword, drew it, struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear" (John 18:10). He shows his ardor, his determination, his courage, and also his love for his Master : he wants to protect him, not understanding that Jesus needed no protection and that all things had to be accomplished.

He was thoughtless, too sure of himself, too impetuous, perhaps, but he shows a very great love for the Lord ! ... and yet we shall see tomorrow that he has denied the one he loved so much.

Source (Please the Lord)