A Moment To Pause: Friday May 22nd 2026 #jesus #peter #faith

Hello and good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today, on Friday the 22nd of May, written by Mary Tyrrell. What a lovely scene we are presented with in today’s Gospel, John chapter 21.The disciples eating fish cooked by Jesus on a barbecue beside the Sea of Galilee. Peter must still have been feeling vulnerable knowing he’d denied Jesus three times and wondering if their friendship could ever be salvaged. When Jesus asks Peter the wham bang question , “Do you love me?” and commissions him to feed his sheep thus reinforcing Peter’s role as a leader in the early Christian community. Do you love me not once but three times. I think my reaction would be like Peter’s Lord,“You know all things. You know that I love you.” Maybe Jesus didn’t need to hear the answer but maybe it was Peter who needed to hear himself profess his love for Jesus before he accepted his role as leader of the community. Leadership, which is currently dominating our national headlines, never comes without responsibility.Responsibility involves love, forgiveness and service.  I hope our politicians are aware of that. I know I love Jesus but I also know I have let Jesus down many times. I’m glad Jesus believes that ruptured relationships are never  permanent. Like Peter,I know God can see beyond my actions and value what’s in my heart. I pray that I strengthen my commitment to him and  to gratefully cherish God’s  presence within me.  Thanks for joining us today.