Afternoon Thoughts-“LORD, YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU”:

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" He answered, "Yes Lord, you know I love you." (Jn 21:15ff)

BY ST BEDE THE VENERABLE

Peter restrained himself in this inquiry of our Lord's by answering cautiously for this reason too, that he remembered that earlier on, when Christ's Passion was drawing near, he had attributed greater constancy to himself than he possessed. He avowed that he was prepared to go with him to prison and to death, when he was not yet capable even of admitting under pressure of danger that he knew him, and that he had once been with him.

He had learned by experience, from that former time of danger, to speak more carefully with the Lord.

He well realised that Christ knew the state of a human conscience better than that conscience was competent to know itself. He did not, indeed, presume to set forth anything at all concerning the secrets of his brothers' hearts, but concerning the wholeheartedness of his own love, he laid bare the testimony, not only his own, but also of the Lord who was questioning him, saying, "Lord, you know that I love you."

Oh, how blissful and pure was the conscience which did not feel apprehensive about saying to its Maker, to whose eyes everything is open and clear, "Lord, you know that I love you!" How chaste and holy was the soul which did not hesitate to lay open its own thoughts to our Lord, and was well aware that it was thinking nothing else than what our Lord approved of! (prayers4reparation)