LOVE OVER FEAR

Many believe there are only two primal emotions in the human being, love and fear, and that we cannot feel both at once. That in the same way light removes darkness, love can remove fear.

The choice to reject fear and choose love can feel like something that only applies to moments of crisis, but in truth, the opportunity to choose love and reject fear presents itself in the smallest moments of life, specifically, in the relationships with those closest to us. Love over fear is a choice every time someone tells us something about ourselves or has an experience of us that we don’t want to hear. Remember as Jesus and his disciples were heading to Jerusalem, how Jesus was trying to tell them that the Son of Man must be handed over, suffer, be killed and rise again.  Peter pulled him aside to tell him, “heaven forbid that this should happen, and Jesus told him get behind me Satan.

We hurt each other in intimate relationships—intentionally and unintentionally—that’s a fact.  Often, we discover we’ve hurt someone when they criticize us or tell us what (they think) is wrong with us.  In these cases, we generally feel blamed or attacked, as a result, it can be more challenging to listen, imagine the situation through their eyes, and often impossible to empathize with their pain.

After the resurrection, Peter who is most likely carrying the heavy burden of guilt for choosing fear when denying he knew Jesus, then witnessing his cruel passion and death, along with other disciples decide to go fishing?  Now it’s unclear whether Peter’s desire to go fishing is for the same reason Fr. Josh loves to go fishing to recharge to be able to reengage in ministry, or is Peter so grief struck and paralyzed by fear that he sees the situation like most humans where death marks the end, therefore, all that’s left is to move on with life.

This is the third time Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after the crucifixion and they still don’t recognize him. In last weeks scripture we heard about Thomas’ need for proof the Lord had risen and he was invited to, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." (Jn 20:27) It seems Peter is still so disappointed with himself he fails to grasp all that has occurred.  Yet, when Peter is told by the beloved disciple, “It is the Lord.” (Jn 21:7) Peter springs into action eagerly jumping into the sea to go greet his resurrected Lord once again.

After breakfast, Jesus seeks to touch the wound of Peter’s denial with reconciling love.  Their threefold dialog gives Peter, and us, the opportunity to choose love over fear, to reaffirm our love for Jesus and to boldly accept his call to mission. 

Jesus asks one question 3 times, receives a response, and gives a call to mission.  My beloved children, “Do you love me?” (Congregation responds), “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”  Don’t say it if you don’t mean it!  Remember there’s a call to mission and a cost to being Jesus’ disciple.

My beloved children, “Do you love me?” (Congregation responds), “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs.” Learning to love God and others starts in the home.  In Deuteronomy Moses tells the people of Israel at Mount Horeb, “…be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but make them known to your children and to your children’s children…” (Dt 4:8-10) St. John Paul II, in his Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio wrote, “…the family has the mission to guard, reveal, and communicate love, and this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in God's love for humanity and the love of Christ the Lord for the Church His bride.” (17)

My beloved children, “Do you love me?” (Congregation responds), “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” “Tend my Sheep.”  On the way to Jerusalem Jesus told Peter, “I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:32) As a Christian community we need to support one another.  As we approach these sacred mysteries, we need to bring our own weaknesses, our own wounds, and our own fears of the cost of discipleship and leave them at the foot of the altar.  We must intentionally remain connected as full and active participants of worship, connected in prayer groups that deepen our knowledge of God’s love for us, and to lift each other up in times of doubt and fear.

My beloved children, “Do you love me?” (Congregation responds), “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” “Feed my Sheep.”  Like the ripples from a pebble breaking the surface of a glassy pond, our love must reach beyond ourselves to the wider community.  There is plenty of fear in our world, love is the only antidote.  Peter was changed by Jesus’ reconciling love, as his bold exchange with the Sanhedrin makes clear.  Peter is able to give blessing, honor, and glory to the Lamb, no matter what the cost.  We can show the depth of our love in our day-to-day fidelity to what we know to be right and by remaining obedient to whom we know is Love, no matter what the cost.  This Love always out shines fear.