A Homily for Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Friday, June 6, 2025
Prince of Peace Catholic Church – 8:00 Mass
Acts 25:13b-21; Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab; John 21:15-19
Audio Recording
This intimate moment between Jesus and Peter takes place after the Resurrection, on the shores of Galilee. Jesus has just reaffirmed Peter’s mission — “Feed my sheep” — and now He turns to the cost of that mission.
“When you were younger…” Jesus contrasts the freedom of youth with the surrender required later in life. But He’s not simply talking about the natural process of aging. He is preparing Peter for martyrdom—inviting him into a love that costs everything.
There’s a spiritual maturity that comes when we move from asking, What do I want? to asking, What does God want of me? That shift is the difference between going where we please and being led — even to places we wouldn’t choose — out of love and obedience.
Peter, once impulsive and afraid, would eventually find the courage to stretch out his hands on a cross, just like his Lord. And that sacrifice, far from being a loss, was how he glorified God.
We may not be called to die a martyr’s death, but all of us are called to a kind of daily martyrdom — a surrender of control, a trust in God’s plan even when it’s hard. Sometimes God leads us to places we don’t want to go: illness, loss, forgiveness, letting go of comfort or pride. But when we follow Him in those moments, we too glorify God.
Jesus ends his conversation with Peter today with a simple and powerful command: “Follow me.” Not just when it’s easy, not just when we understand, but even when the path leads us where we wouldn’t go on our own.
These golden years of our life will quite likely bring crosses we never expected. But Jesus still walks with us, and He promises that even in our suffering, even in our limitations, we are still His disciples. We are still deeply loved.
So today, take heart, regardless of the difficulties you are enduring. Jesus is near. He knows our burdens. He honors our perseverance. And He gently says to us again, as He said to Peter: “Follow me.” Because in faithfully following Him we find life and true joy.
God bless you.