Loving Jesus – 3rd Sunday of Easter – April 10, 2016

Source: Neo Jeremiah Voice of the Young Prophet Newsletter (April 10, 2016 issue)

At some point in our lives, we find ourselves lost in the track of life. We lose hope and motivation to go on. Sometimes, we even lose our own selves, our own identity, our purpose. When these happen, one option we usually take is to retrace our steps from where we started. We reminisce the old days, go soul-searching. Just like what Peter and the other disciples had done. They went back fishing; as they were fishermen before they met Jesus. True enough, Jesus appeared to them on the shore of the lake, just like when He first found them in the beginning. What joy they must have felt to see the Lord again! To have their light back, their purpose!

One thing we must be mindful about retracing our steps though, is not to be tempted to go back to our old bad habits, taking life our own way again, away from Jesus and end up in vain, gaining nothing. We must bear in mind that only under the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will our harvest be bountiful. (so they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish V.6)

On the second part of today’s gospel, Peter was asked thrice by Jesus, “Do you love me?” and Peter with all his heart answered “Yes”. Let us examine ourselves, how about us? Can we, with full confidence say thrice “Yes Lord, I love You”? Or in every yes we have to doubt, thinking if we really do? Does it manifest in our way of life?

Loving Jesus takes more than professing it, it needs loyalty and commitment. It is either we love and follow Him or we do not. In faith, there are no in-betweens. There will be times that we may feel wandering off the path Jesus had laid for us to follow, but as long as we have that love burning in our hearts for Jesus and the desire to follow His ways, we will always find our way back. Christ Jesus will always lead us back.

— Shiella