Love and Follow
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 21:15-19 – After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will…lead you where you do not want to go.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There is a beautiful story about St. Peter near the end of his life. Peter became the first bishop of Rome, and the head of the entire Church. During Peter’s time as pope, in the mid 60’s A.D., Nero, the emperor of Rome, was enacting a terrible persecution of Christians, and Peter was fleeing Rome for his life. At a certain spot on the road outside Rome, Jesus appeared to Peter. He had a cross on His shoulders and was walking back towards Rome. Peter looked at the Lord and understood–it was a call. Peter turned around, and walked back to Rome. There He was martyred on a cross of his own. In the Gospel, Jesus addresses Peter’s three denials by three times asking Peter, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17). After this He tells Peter that Peter will die at the hands of others. Then Jesus says, “Follow me.” At the end of Peter’s life, he is again given the chance to deny Jesus. He chooses instead to follow Jesus. Now, at the place of Peter’s death in Rome, stands St. Peter’s Basilica, the single largest and most important church on the face of the earth. Never underestimate the power of what Jesus can do with one person (even one very imperfect person) who decides, no matter what, to follow Him. Follow!
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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