Do You Love Me?

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I read today's Gospel through tears of joy. I was profoundly touched by the conversation between Jesus and Peter. I was moved to tears by the gentleness and compassion Jesus shows to Peter, and to us if we but ask.  The gregarious, outspoken disciple is finally humbled by the Lord and recognizes, maybe for the first time, that Jesus truly loves him, trusts him, forgives, and forgets all of Peter's failings and weaknesses. This passage is moving but we would do well to first read the entire 21st Chapter of John, a mere 25 verses to really understand how the relationship between these two men has moved to an entirely different level. John brings his Gospel to a close by taking us back to the very beginning of the relationship. Back then, Peter was out fishing all night, catching nothing, before his first encounter with the Lord. Here too, Peter, who is at this point confused, wrestling with emotions of hope and guilt, joy and sorrow, is out fishing all night catching nothing. Ag
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He wants to give me more!

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20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
John 6:51-58

Yesterday we met my brother, Fr. William Hahn, at his new parish. He was ordained two years ago and was recently made pastor of a parish in Southern Ohio. After mass and a tour of the rectory we went out for dinner. Finding a place to eat for my brother, my wife, and me plus our four boys on a Saturday evening was not an easy task.

We settled for Steak N Shake, not that that is a bad choice. The wait was short and that is what we were looking for. I usually try not to eat that type of food but occasionly I'll splurge. Afterall, we were celebrating not only my brother's new assignment but out 6th wedding anniversary as well. I ordered a Frisco Melt platter and a Vanilla Malt with a bowl of Chicken Gumbo.

As I was trying to eat my meal and keep the boys from eating the meals of the other patrons I thought of today's Gospel reading and yesterday's meditation. In yesterday's meditation I asked God with child-like faith to feel His hands upon me. I yearned to be as one of the children in the Gospel that He laid hands on and prayed for. While praying through today's Gospel my prayer seemed more childish than child-like.

Here I was praying for the laying on of hands when Jesus wants to give me so much more, Himself. I wonder how often my prayers make Him chuckle? I wonder how often I pray for a new light bulb when He wants to give me the sun? Here I was essentially praying to have the opportunity to hold my Vanilla Malt while the whole time He was wanting to give me the entire platter and more. I could ask for the world and it would still be like asking for dust compared to what He wants to give me, Himself in the Eucharist.

Lord Jesus, I come before you again in prayer. I ask only for that which You long to give. I pray that I may not seek the things of this world over the many gifts You want to pour out upon me. Help me to be open to those gifts and use them to bring others closer to You. Help me to work to try and recieve the greatest gift each and every day at Mass, the gift of Yourself in the Eucharist.

FROM THE SAINTS
-"When the bee has gathered the dew of heaven and the earth's sweetest nectar from the flowers, it turns it into honey, then hastens to its hive. In the same way, the priest, having taken from the altar the Son of God (who is as the dew from heaven, and true son of Mary, flower of our humanity), gives him to you as delicious food." - St. Francis de Sales

Comments

Sarah Reinhard said…
This makes me think of what I'm always praying for: "Thy will not my will." Your imagery of the light bulb and the sun and the Vanilla Malt and the whole platter made my stomach grumble, and the picture of your boys trying to eat the other patrons' dinners made me laugh. Thanks, Jim!
11:31 PM
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