Now, the final piece of the puzzle falls into place. St. Peter might have thought that this part of his life was over, since he failed so spectacularly in following Jesus. You can't do much worse than denying Jesus three times.
Much has been said in preaching about the wording here, and that Jesus is calling Peter to a deeper love than he is at first willing to give. That is all true. Still, I want to focus on the fact that Jesus asked the question three times, the same number of Peter's denials. Jesus could have said simply, "I forgive you, and I love you." Yet there is something real about each denial that needs to be reconciled. Three denials, three affirmations of love, and three commands from Jesus, which are really one command: to take care of the Church, and all of its members. Peter cannot wallow in self-pity, because Jesus has sent him to do a job. We all need the grace of Christ, and the mercy of Christ, but none of it is simply for us to keep and enjoy. We are forgiven and given the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to share that power and forgiveness with others.
Remember what led Peter to deny Jesus in the first place? He was afraid that they would catch him, and possibly even kill him. Jesus tells him authoritatively that in fact Peter will die for Jesus; he will not escape the thing that he feared. In St. Luke's Gospel, it is recorded that Jesus told Peter, "and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." (Luke 22:32) However it is that Peter strengthens the other apostles and leads the Church, we know that it is not in his own strength. Right before Jesus tells Peter to strengthen his brethren, he says that he has prayed for Peter, that his faith may not fail. Now Peter knows that death is not the worst thing that can happen. Rather, to fail to recognize Jesus, and to a live life unworthy of his calling, is worse than death.
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