Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“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.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, April 19, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep. Direct instructions from Jesus to Peter and, by extension, all those who follow Jesus. Feed and tend. Yes, of course, the meaning is spiritual. Peter will go on to bring thousands into the Way of Jesus and, with lots of help, nurture their faith.
But, and this is a big but, that’s not sufficient in and of itself. Maslow’s hierarchy is clear that higher functions like spiritual growth absolutely cannot happen for someone who is concerned about where their next meal is coming from. The early Christians got this. They lived a communal lifestyle. Everyone coming in contributed what the had and the money was shared so that everyone—everyone!—had enough. I simply do not think you can conveniently forget this basic reality and say that Jesus only meant Peter to preach and convert people to the faith. As Christians who are called to carry out this threefold directive from Jesus, it is incumbent upon us to work for justice for every single human being no matter what.
What does Jesus’ directive to Peter and us mean to me in my day to day life?
