[stephenkhoo]

REINSTATING A FAILED LEADER FOR MINISTRY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 25:13-21; PS 103:1-2,11-12,19-20; JN 21:15-19 ]

Scripture commentators are divided as to whether this last chapter of John’s gospel was added by one of his disciples or written by John himself, as it seems to be out of place. Jesus had already appeared to them and they confessed their faith in Him. He had also bestowed upon them the Holy Spirit and commanded them to preach the gospel. Most of all, the evangelist seems to have concluded the book by stating the purpose of his writing, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (Jn 20:30f)

Why, then, an additional chapter that ends with some suspense? Whether this last chapter was written by John himself or one of his disciples will remain a matter for the exegetes. But for our case, there was still some unfinished business that Jesus had to do before His earthly ministry could come to an end. This was the appointment of Peter as the leader of the Twelve. The mission could not be accomplished unless there was a leader that could hold the Twelve and the rest of the disciples together, feeding, tending and leading them. But Peter had failed miserably as the rock, the Petra, the name that the Lord gave to him at Caesarea Philippi. “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18) Peter had betrayed the Lord and denied Him three times before the servants and bystanders at the High Priest’s garden. Hence, it is significant that Jesus began by calling Peter, “Simon, son of John” when Peter was used throughout the gospel. He has lost his credibility and authority as the rock. Not only did he feel unworthy to lead, but perhaps even some of his fellow disciples had lost confidence in him. It was therefore important for Jesus to reinstate him, otherwise His departure would have left the Church without a leader.

The most important foundation for leadership and ministry is our love for the Lord. This was why the Lord questioned Peter three times, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” This is a soul-searching question addressed to us all who are in ministry and in leadership. Do we really love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul, as the Lord reiterated in the gospel as the first and most important commandment? (Mt 22:37) The truth is that many of us in service love our work more than loving Him. We claim that we are serving for the glory of God and the love of Him but in truth we love our work, the fulfillment we have when we are successful, the recognition and appreciation we receive. Loving our work is not as altruistic as we think it is because there is a lot of ego behind what we do. This explains why we get discouraged, resentful, competitive and even depressed when the work we do does not seem to produce the results we expect. Worse still, we get lots of opposition and criticisms. Our ego is hurt and wounded and we become reactive and retaliate against those who hinder us from attaining our goals.

But if we truly love the Lord, then we should not be too preoccupied with success and achievements. If we look at the ministry of the apostles in the primitive Church and even St Paul’s missionary trips, the success and conversions were limited. More often than not, they were rejected, maligned and arrested. Loving the Lord should come first, before any doing or service. Just knowing that we are in union with the Lord in prayer and in our service, being with Him or working with Him is itself the greatest and most satisfying reward. Being in love with the Lord and allowing the Lord to bask us with His love is what should motivate us regardless, even before any service to Him or to the community is rendered.

This was why the Lord asked Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” On the first level, Jesus was asking Peter whether he was attached to the success of his work, as in the miraculous catch and his career as fisherman. So long as we are attached to the things of this world and the measures of success in this world, we cannot be His leader because God measures success differently from that of the world. He measures success in terms of love and fidelity to Him. As St Teresa of Calcutta says, “We are called to be faithful not successful.”

However, this love for our Lord is more than just an empty affirmation or even a fleeting emotion. It is a humble love. Many of us when asked whether we love someone, we say so confidently, I love you with all my heart! That was what Peter said earlier to our Lord. In his pride, he was presumptuous of his love when he assured the Lord, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” (Mt 26:33) This time, when the Lord asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.'” He was no longer comparing himself with the others. He knew that he loved the Lord but as to how much, he could only tell the Lord that He would know how much he loved Him. There was no longer a competitive or comparative spirit in Peter.

He was conscious of his limited capacity to love. Some scripture scholars suggest that Jesus used the verb, “agapao”, which means a godly love when He asked Peter the first two times, “Do you love me?” But Peter replied with “Phileo” which is an affective love between two human beings. In the context of John’s gospel, this could be the case as Jesus wanted to reverse the mistakes and heal the sins of Peter. The circumstances in which this apparition took place would have reminded Peter of his denial of Jesus, namely, the charcoal fire, three times the Lord asked him about his love for Him and the prediction that followed. Jesus was reversing the order of following Him, carrying the cross and denying Him. In John 13, Jesus told Peter that where He was going, he could not come but he could do so after His passion. And then this was followed by the prediction of the denial of Peter. (Jn 13:36-38) Hence, by asking Peter to confess his love again, it was to heal him of his insolence in declaring his love for the Lord.

As a leader, it is important that we remain humble in assessing our love for the Lord, because we must not think that we love Him more than those who are serving with us or those who are under our charge. Being humble in love means that we will always be on guard and compassionate to those who fail in their duties. This is what the Lord said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:31)

A humble love is finally expressed in obedience. If we were to feed, tend and lead the sheep of God, then we ourselves must be led by the Great Shepherd. Leaders tend to be arrogant. They are used to telling people what to do but they scorn those who tell them what to do. Jesus told Peter, “I tell you most solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.” Obedience to those who are placed over us keeps us humble and shows our faith in God’s power and wisdom rather than ours. This is why, obedience is one of the evangelical counsels imposed on priests and religious. When we cannot be obedient, we will be tempted by the Evil One to arrogance and over confidence in ourselves. But those who are obedient will be ready to follow, just as Peter followed Jesus even unto death, trusting in His power. St John concluded, “In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.'” Let us too ask for a realistic, humble and obedient love for the Lord so that we can follow Him and walk in His ways.