Breaking the Word

 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." (Jn 21:15-19)

This scene between Jesus and Peter is one of the most spectacular interchange in the whole Bible. By way of forgiveness, Jesus gives a job to Peter to do. The author re-creates a scene like that of the denial of Peter. There is charcoal fire here too. There at the time of denial Peter was questioned about his belonging to the disciples of Jesus. He was questioned three times and all the three times he denied.

The smell of charcoal fire is to remind Peter of the past event. Jesus questions Peter about his love for the Master. If there is true love then there is the sense of belonging. Peter, earlier, denied his belonging to Jesus. He denied him three times. He denied him completely. Jesus questioning him three times is a reminder for Peter of what he had done.

The sign of forgiveness is the mission given to him (interesting!!!). Peter is only reminded of his past and nothing is said about it. With the starting of the mission the past is forgotten (forgiven). Things we are given to do precisely as the sign that we are forgiven. It is grace from start to finish. Could this be the secret of all Christian ministry?

"I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them." (Jn 17:20-26)

Jesus is praying for and longed that we should all be one. United. He prayed also for the future generations to come. He prayed for those followers who became followers of Jesus because of the word of the apostles. This preaching of the word carried on and on and on. His prayer included the people or the listeners of the word of the apostles from generations to generations.

Disciples are known through this unity. Unity is vital for the believers. Unity is the thread that runs through every believer and every generation. But the reality is also true which is, just the opposite, in some places and in persons. This unity is to be expressed in love. Unity and love are the signs of the disciples as it is between the Father and the son.

As in every human relationship, unity cannot be forced. It cannot be manipulated. But in a divided world, the division has run down the religious line as well. This should not be an excuse for Christians. It is a reason to work afresh for unity in every generation as Jesus prayed for. If we are essentially on in faith then there cannot be reason why may not be one in our life and worship.