Peter, feed my sheep.

Peter, feed my sheep.

1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.
2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No."
6 He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 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."
16 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."
17 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.
18 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."
19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me." (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

I appeared several times after my resurrection, before my Ascension into Heaven. I was clothed with my supernatural body, which in its glory was only visible to those to whom I allowed to see it. It was necessary for me to give consolation to the faithful souls who partook of my suffering and to strengthen and give courage to my newly founded Church.

Peter had denied me three times and was still full of guilt. I had chosen Peter to be the head of the Apostles even though I knew of his human weaknesses; after all I had taught him that without me you are nothing. So the time had come to delegate my power and my authority since I was not going to be personally at the command of my flock.

I am the Good Shepherd; I do not leave my sheep unattended. Since they need food, protection, healing and shelter, I entrusted all that care to Peter, my Vicar, the head of my Church.

I asked him three times if He loved me, and of course the answer was “yes Lord, I love you”, this in itself caused healing to his wounds and restored his confidence and dignity as the new Shepherd in charge of my sheep.

I asked him to take care of my sheep and to feed them. On the last supper I had provided the new heavenly manna to feed the world, “my own flesh and my own blood”. I, the creator, had created my self in the consecrated species of bread and wine, which would be consecrated by Peter and all my apostles; and also by those appointed by them as priests. My Church was now secured until the end of times, I was its life then and I continue to be its life now, because my words are spirit and life.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary