15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
How much do we love God?!
Saint John Chrysostom, Homilies at Genesis, homily LV, I–III, in Church Fathers and Writers (1989), vol. 22, p. 216
Saint Paul didn`t behave so ungratefully like us ! Saint Paul was so ardent with his spirit, he was so passionate of the love for God that he said, he cried and uttered those words worthy of his soul: ` Who will separate us? He says, what can separate me of the love of God? Something from the visible ones, something from the invisible? No. Then wanting to enumerate in detail everyone of these and show to everybody his powerful love for his Lord, he added:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8, 35)
Oh, soul mad with a madness which has as its mother wisdom! Which one of the troubles coming against me, says Saint Paul, will be able to separate me of the love of God? The daily troubles? No way. The difficulties? Neither these ones. Persecution? Not at all. Hunger? No way. Dangers? But why am I speaking of hunger, poverty and dangers? May be it sword? Not even death will be able to separate me of the Love of Christ! cries Saint Paul. It is absolutely impossible!
Source: http://ziarullumina.ro
