The whole chapter 21, the last one in the Gospel of the Apostle John, describes the encounter of the risen Christ with the apostles. The event took place in Galilee, and it was the third time that the apostles encountered the risen Christ. There were seven of the apostles present, among them were Peter and John. Jesus spoke above all with Peter. He asked Peter three times if he loved Him. In Greek, the word “love” is expressed by terms “agape” and “philia”. Agape is selfless love, the love of God towards us and the love which He wants us to show towards Him. Philia is human love – between parents and children, or love for the nation… Love between a man and a woman is expressed in Greek by the term “eros”. Unfortunately, the Germanic and Slavonic languages have only one term “love” for all these meanings. At the present time, when the world is flooded by a wave of sexual impurity and perversion, one needs to discern true values and to call them by their proper names. The term denoting selfless and self-sacrificing love is “agape”. The contrary of love is self-love, egoism.

Jesus asks Peter: “Agapas me?” Do you love Me with divine self-sacrificing love? Peter answers: “Philo se.” I love You with human love. Jesus asks Peter three times and Peter answers the same for the third time, grieved and with tears in his eyes: “Lord, I cannot but love You with human love (philia).” Jesus accepts this sincere confession and immediately speaks about his martyr’s death when human love (philia) will finally be transformed by God’s grace into agape – divine love.

Jesus asks every genuine Christian: “Do you love Me? Are you willing even to sacrifice your life for My sake?” Jesus asks you too: “Are you willing to endure humiliation and suffering, or even physical death for My sake?” Think what you would like to promise Jesus, and know that Jesus takes you seriously. Say your “YES” to Him!

Download: Reflection on Jn 21:17