Turning repentance into ministry

Good News Reflection
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 21, 2010

Day 8 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today's Readings:
Acts 25:13b-21
Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab
John 21:15-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/052110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_05_21.mp3

Turning repentance into ministry

In today's Gospel reading, three times Jesus asks Peter to confess his love; three times, Jesus commissions him to become a shepherd to continue the ministry of the Good Shepherd.

In scripture, anything spoken three times means "to the utmost" (like "good, better, best"). When Peter denied Jesus three times, he rejected Jesus to the utmost. Jesus knew this and, with utmost compassion, gave Peter a complete healing from that break in their relationship by offering him the opportunity to confess his love to the utmost.

Jesus does the same for you and me. Any time we deny, reject, or hurt anyone – anyone at all! – we are doing this to Jesus (see Matt. 25:31-46). But because of his great mercy and compassion for us, he always always always (to the utmost) gives us opportunities to heal the break in our relationship with him. And then, just like he did for Saint Peter, he gives us the mission of taking his love to others.

We must do everything reasonably possible to reconcile with others, and after we've made amends, or if we have no opportunity to heal a broken relationship, Jesus gives us a ministry of healing – on a wider scale, to other people – and this helps expiate our sins, purifies our growth, and heals many who are waiting for God's help.

In cases where priests (or anyone else) molested children or caused other scandals in the Church, the bigger scandal is when nothing good comes from it. Jesus is asking, "Do you love me? What are you going to do about it?" God can turn anything eventually into a ministry – and he wants to!

At the site on the Sea of Galilee where Peter received his vocation (at the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter), a sign reads:

The deeds and miracles of Jesus
are not actions of the past.
Jesus is waiting for those who are
still prepared to take risks at his word
because they trust his power utterly.

What is Jesus commissioning you to do? In whatever ways you have sinned, if you have not yet turned them into a ministry, God is waiting to hear you say, "Yes, Jesus, you know I love you. I say yes to the ministry you give to me, no matter how risky or impossible it seems. I choose to trust in your guidance, your directions. Tell me what to do!"

To that prayer, Jesus gives a resounding AMEN!

May the Holy Spirit, whose fullness on earth we celebrate this weekend, empower you to do awesome works for the kingdom of God. Amen!

Prepare for Pentecost … See the downloadable meditations at Catholic Digital Resources: http://catholicdr.com/faithbuilders/prayers/HolySpirit-Prayer.htm

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Find It!Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?
To sign up for your own subscription, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections

Donate
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?
Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...

Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!

Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

______________________________________________________________
This is the "Good News Reflections - American Edition" mailing list.
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
Change your address
Unsubscribe