“Feed my lambs… Take care of my sheep… Feed my sheep.”
Sometimes things have to me mentioned more than once. Peter acknowledged that in today’s Gospel Reading where Jesus told him. Not once. Not twice. But three times what his role was.
At the time of the conversation, Jesus had already passed. But he had reappeared before the Disciples. Partly as a sign of him truly resurrected. Partly to give some final instructions to the Disciples.
As Jesus lived, he taught the Disciples – and those who wanted to listen for that matter – what faith was all about. Following the crucifixion. Such teachings are not taught though.
Now it is time for some final instructions on how to carry on. Carry on as a Church. And it is in this context Peter is told> Not once. Not twice. But three times what his role was.
I believe most of us know of the need for mentioning things more than once. I do not believe it is bad intention, but sometimes when we talk with one another, words can come in through one ear and leave through the other with the blink of an eye. That is just how it is.
As a parent. I know this very well. ‘Please go get dressed’, I can tell my son: Not once. Not twice. But three times in a row. And still he does not do it.
And when I finally got him ready to leave, he could look at me all blank in his eyes. “Where are we going’ as if going to school is a complete surprise to him despite us getting ready in the same way for almost a year now.
Another situation could be at the pool. I tell him to take on his bathing suit. Not once. Not twice. But three times and once we finally arrived at the shower, I discovered that he had not taken off his underwear before taking on the bathing suit.
This is an issue now, but it sure also will be an issue once we have finished swimming and we must get dressed to get home. How can it be so complicated.
I am not asking much. Simple things. But – as ai said earlier – it seems as if my words simply come in through one ear and out through the other.
How come?
Well, for children it might be one thing. They simply might not pay attention as they relive something they read in a book. Always playing in a way.
Teenagers might be excused as well as their frontal lobes have not completely grown.
But it sure also happens to adults. And not just for Peter in today’s Biblical Reading, but for You and me as well.
How come?
If I think about the situations where it happens to me, it seems to occur when my head is somehow teeming with ideas. It can do this quite often – not least because I can be quite absent-minded at times.
That said, I can think of four situations where it for sure happens:
First, it can happen for a materialistic reason. If I just cannot get my thoughts away from something I really want to own, want to build, want to try out.
Just think of Christmas Eve. Think of how hard it is to take the attention away from the presents – probably mostly if you celebrate Christmas with children. It almost is impossible to get something said.
Second, it can happen if I simply cannot make up my mind. If I for instance cannot figure out what cloth to wear, I cannot listen to anyone talking to me before I have decided.
Luckily, I wear this robe every Sunday in church. If not, I might run late more often than I currently do.
Third, it can be emotional. In situations I cannot get my thoughts away from my feelings. I am worried. I might fear what other people think of me. I might have felt something unjust.
A lot of things. A lot of situations. Mostly not good. This can be troublesome and for sure make us incapable of listening.
Fourth and last, it even can be physical. If you are sick, you might not either want or be able to listen. Something that can either be a long-term situation for you, or just something spontaneous.
Like when I was on a Ferry from one island to another during my recent holiday. I got seasick. Really seasick. And I simply shut down.
Luckily both Bjoern and Camilla got seasick as well, meaning we all shut down. In one way, of course it was not good, but in another it was good.
Just think of the frustration of one of us wanting to talk and the two others simply not able to listen: ‘I want to play, I want to play, I want to play.’
So, I personally found four situations where I need to have things said to me more than once. You might be able to relate to these; you might be able to think of more situations where it is needed – both for me and for you.
Anyway, my point is that what takes place in today’s Gospel is very relatable to us.
Peter. He gets upset about the need though. But that also makes sense I will argue. After all he does not seem absent-minded at the time. He seems to take in and understand what Jesus says. At least his responses suggest that.
That he gets upset is relatable to us as well, I think. In the rare occasion where we listen and understand the first time, it is annoying to be reminded that we not always do so.
Despite Peter probably understanding Jesus the first time, Jesus very deliberately repeats himself not twice, but three times for a very good reason: To make Peter recall how he just a few days prior had denied Jesus not once, not twice, but three times.
What is the point in today’s Gospel Reading? How can we grow in faith by listening to and reflect upon today’s Reading?
To me two essential things about faith are suggested: First, as humans we have this tendency of not always listening, and because of that we are imperfect. Just as Peter.
We might want something, have it all right, proclaim Jesus as Lord. But then at other times we might prove flawed.
In today’s Reading it is foretold how Peter will suffer death as a martyr. Hence, he becomes the perfect example of all the ways we can respond to faith:
Proclaiming, denying, questioning, following.
As Peter, we find ourselves in and out of these four states. That is the first point I find in today’s Reading.
The second point I find is that despite Peter and us moving in and out of these four states, Jesus build his church upon Peter. Upon us.
The church – we – are not to think of us as perfect. We are flawed. Yet that did not hold Jesus from leaving us with his Gospel. Rather opposite. God showed us mercy in Christ.
May we always find strength in this mercy. Both in days where we proclaim and follow, but also in days where we deny or question.
May it be always repeated to us. Every Sunday, if not more. May it be repeated even if we get tired of listening. May it be repeated even though we do not understand why it needs to be repeated.
Just repeat your Gospel, oh Lord, forever and ever.
Amen.