Monday, June 30, 2025

Feed and Tend


When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the 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. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ John 21:15-19

Feed and tend my lambs and sheep was Jesus' final instruction to Peter. We don't know why Jesus repeated his question to Peter of "do you love me', nor why Jesus direction is slightly different each time. We can tell, even at this distance in time that Peter was hurt by the repetition, feeling that Jesus was questioning his love and loyalty. I also know, as you do, that Peter could be stubborn and thick headed. I don't think those attributes are what made Jesus repeat himself. To build muscle of any sort, repetition is the only choice. We humans need to hear things over and over before it sinks in and stays. Jesus, in his final moments wanted the disciples all to hear this exchange and act on it. "Your assignment is to be about the caring, feeding and tending the flock, the sheep, those people who surround you," Jesus might have said. This is our assignment too. Care for them, give them what they need to thrive.

Gracious Creator, you tend and you feed us
finding safe harbor for those on water
providing shelter for the workers on land
and surrounding us with verdant fields.

We are often take care of ourselves only
not seeing the neighbor in great need
the lamb caught in the bramble of politics
nor the sheep rounded up like criminals.

Lord, help us to daily tend and feed
even when it is scary and dangerous
even when it feels impossible to do
be with us and give us your courage today. Amen

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