HOMILY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C (2)

HOMILY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C

THEME: Peter’s Triple Profession of Love

BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa, MA.

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY MAY 1 2022

The Gospel passage (John 21:1-19) for the Third Sunday of Easter contains the conversation between Jesus and Peter. This dialogue is structured around a repetitive question-and-answer session, and the word “love” features prominently in the conversation. In fact, “love” appears three times in Jesus’ question and Peter’s response.

In the three things that the word “love” appears in the English translation of today’s Biblical text, they seem to be identical. But they are not so in the Greek translation because the Greeks have different words for love.

Some of them include Eros (romantic, passionate love), Philia (intimate, authentic friendship), Erotoropia (playful, flirtatious love), Storge (unconditional, familial love), Philautia (compassionate self-love), Pragma (committed, companionate love) and Agápe (empathetic, universal love).

“Agape” (John 21:15-16) and “philia” (John 21:17) feature in today’s gospel text. Jesus uses the word “agape” in his first and second questions to Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?” and “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?”

On the other hand, Jesus uses the word “philia” in the third question: “Simon, son of John, do you love (philia) me?” Besides, “philia” is the same word Peter uses in each of the three responses, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love (philia) you.”

In essence, “agape” refers to a divine and self-sacrificial form of love. It is the word found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” because it encapsulates the love that motivated God to send his only son to redeem the world. We are called to agape love, which is selfless love for God and neighbor.

On the other hand, “philia” is a Greek word used to describe close friendship or brotherly love. When Jesus Christ was described in Matthew 11:19 as a “friend of sinners,” philia was the original Greek word used. When the Lord referred to his disciples as “friends” (Luke 12:4; John 15:13–15), he used the Greek term philia. And when James referred to Abraham as God’s friend (James 2:23), he used the term philia.

Clearly, both sacrificial love (agape) and brotherly love (philia) are worth aspiring for. Nonetheless, when compared, “agape” is a “superior” form of love, whereas “philia” is a “subordinate” form of love. As a result, it’s not surprising that Jesus uses “agape” in his conversation with Peter because he wants something more than “philia,” which is a selfless love from Peter. Additionally, Jesus wants to counterbalance Peter’s triple denial of him during his Passion with his triple profession of love. Also, he wants to invest in him the authority to lead and take care of his church, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17).

Furthermore, the first of the three questions that Jesus addresses to Peter is, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” This question appears to be a comparative question, that is, “more than the other disciples love me.” However, Jesus is giving Peter a second chance at what he failed at during his passion.

So, it is important to know if Peter’s love for him transcends his love for other things (people or things). Besides, only until Peter’s love for Jesus is clearly seen as a self-sacrificial love would he be able to take on a shepherding role like that of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who puts the life of the sheep before all other concerns.

Today, Jesus calls each of us by name and asks us the same question that he asks Peter, “N…, do you love me more than things and people?” And each of us is expected to answer this question with all honesty. Like Saint Paul asks in Romans 8:35, what will separate you from the love of Christ? May nothing or nobody separate us from the love of God. Amen!

Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa, MA.
Homily for Third Sunday of Easter
May 1, 2022.