Stubborn Love
Dearest Father, Thank You for Your stubborn love that never lets go of me. Embracing the worst in me, and calling me to love and serve You, again and again, just like You did with Peter. As written in the Gospel today.
If you want weekly inspiration and actionable steps from the Word of God to help you live the rich life in Christ, subscribe to SpeakChrist Lovenote and get started today.
[31] But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in Him, you may have life (John 20:31 GNBDK) - the rich and satisfying life in Christ. (John 10:10 NLT)
Today's Readings
First Reading: Acts 5: 27-32, 40b-41
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 30: 2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
Second Reading: Revelation 5: 11-14
Gospel: John 21: 1-19
Reading 1, Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 GNBDK
[27] They brought the apostles in, made them stand before the Council, and the High Priest questioned them.
[28] “We gave you strict orders not to teach in the name of this man,” he said; “but see what you have done! You have spread your teaching all over Jerusalem, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”
[29] Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God, not men. [30] The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death, after you had killed him by nailing him to a cross.
[31] God raised him to his right-hand side as Leader and Saviour, to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven.
[32] We are witnesses to these things — we and the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to those who obey him.”
[40] They called the apostles in, had them whipped, and ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus; and then they set them free.
[41] As the apostles left the Council, they were happy, because God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will. At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me; O LORD, be my helper. You changed my mourning into dancing;O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Reading 2, Revelation 5:11-14
Revelation 5:11-14 GNBDK
[11] Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood round the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders,
[12] and sang in a loud voice: “The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honour, glory, and praise!”
[13] And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea — all living beings in the universe — and they were singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever!”
[14] The four living creatures answered, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshipped.
Gospel, John 21:1-19
John 21:1-19 GNBDK
[1] After this, Jesus appeared once more to his disciples at Lake Tiberias. This is how it happened.
[2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together.
[3] Simon Peter said to the others, “I am going fishing.” “We will come with you,” they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing.
[4] As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water's edge, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
[5] Then he asked them, “Young men, haven't you caught anything?” “Not a thing,” they answered.
[6] He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish.
[7] The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment round him (for he had taken his clothes off) and jumped into the water.
[8] The other disciples came to shore in the boat, pulling the net full of fish. They were not very far from land, about a hundred metres away.
[9] When they stepped ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it and some bread.
[10] Then Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
[11] Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore full of big fish, 153 in all; even though there were so many, still the net did not tear.
[12] Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.
[13] So Jesus went over, took the bread, and gave it to them; he did the same with the fish.
[14] This, then, was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from death.
[15] After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.”
[16] A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”
[17] A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.
[18] I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will bind you and take you where you don't want to go.”
[19] (In saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God.) Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”
Dearest Father,
Thank You for Your stubborn love that never lets go of me. Embracing the worst in me, and calling me to love and serve You, again and again, just like You did with Peter. As written in the Gospel today.
John 21:17 GNBDK
[17] A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.
Peter denied knowing Jesus 3x.
Ever since then, he was laden with guilt.
He who professed to follow Jesus even unto death failed Him at the most crucial time.
He, whom Jesus considered among His best friends, denied him 3x, just like that. How could he?
Jesus, in this Gospel, gave Peter a chance, 3x, actually, to correct his mistake, accept humility, and surrender, then reinstalled him to God's chosen assignment for him.
John 21:17 GNBDK
[17] A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.
Lord, You know everything. You know that I love you.
This was a cry of humility and surrender.
Lord, You know everything about me. You know I'm weak and I'm prone to making mistakes. You know I could fail You, many times. But You know that I love You.
You know.
And Jesus, knowing the depths of Peter, and us too, reinstated him to his Divine Assignment and calling:
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”
I remember this song, Stubborn Love by Kathy Troccoli.
This song is a favorite of my youth as a baby Christian and even until now, though I just remembered this now when I was writing this reflection.
Cause the truth sang here remains the same.
I still fall into sin again and again. But His stubborn love embraces me still, again and again.
No matter how stubborn you are in your human tendencies, falling into sin again and again, know full well - Jesus, with His stubborn love, never lets go of you.
God’s perfect love embraces the worst in me and you. He never lets go.
And His calling remains in me and you.
Just embrace God's stubborn love, again and again, and never let go too.
If you want to live in this stubborn love of God daily, join me in our SpeakChrist RichLife Club. We'll do it together. St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us.
Live the RichLife in Christ today
You think you're stubborn in your sin?
God's love for you is much more stubborn still.
Free 🎁 for you. 👼🤟
Stubborn Love embraces the worst in you and me.
Again and again.
John 21:17 GNBDK
[17] A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.
Now Your Turn
(Questions to ask yourself when scripture journaling)
What verses spoke to me strongly and powerfully from the scripture readings?
What is God saying to me in these verse or verses?
What does God want me to do today?
Journal prompts of the day
Why are you stubborn in your sin?
Do you know Jesus' love for you is so much more stubborn than your sin?
Can you just embrace God's stubborn love for you and never let go?
Your Actionable Steps to Do This Week:
Accept your sins and failings.
Draw close to Jesus even when you fail.
Embrace God's stubborn love for you and never let go.
Let us pray:
If you want to live the rich life in Christ every day - embraced in God’s stubborn love - give your life to Jesus.
That’s the first step.
Say this prayer with me:
Dearest Father,
Forgive me of my sins. I receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for making me now Your child and heir, with power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory, and blessing. Thank You that in Christ, Father, I am always embraced in Your stubborn love - again and again.
In Jesus’ Name.
This is it for now. Until next time.
Vivo dives vitae in Christo. Live the RichLife in Christ.
P.S
If you want to develop daily discipline and consistently achieve what God wants you to be, do, and have, without struggle - live the rich life in Christ. Join the RichLife Club now. We’ll do it together.