I remember one day many years ago hearing a father tell his eldest son who had greatly disrespected him, “I forgive you but I will not forget”.

That phrase remained with the son all his life and on the father’s death-bed he pleaded with him to truly forgive him so that he could live the rest of his life in peace.

The Gospel reading for this the third Sunday of Easter gives us an account of the third appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection.

It is an important meeting with the disciples because in this meeting the Lord’s reconciliation with Peter is manifestly complete and the Lord places on the shoulders of this man who had denied him three times a very great responsibility.

We all know the story. Jesus reveals himself once again to his disciples as Lord, and the Lord does not wait for the disciples to apologise for what they had done.

They had wronged Jesus. They had all, with the exception of John, run away. Peter had denied three times that he knew him. Jesus acts as if nothing had happened.

He prepares breakfast for them, and after they have eaten, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him more than the others do. Peter well aware of his betrayal doesn’t say “Yes, I love you more than these”, he simply says “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus then tells him to feed his lambs. Twice again Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Twice Peter replies that he does, the last time adding, “Lord you know all things, You know that I love you.”

And again Jesus admonishes him to feed his sheep. It appears to me that Jesus is telling Peter, “all is forgiven, all is forgotten” and as proof of that Jesus gives to Peter the responsibility of looking after the sheep.

Often in life people whom we love and who profess to love us betray us very badly. As a result they are often afraid to approach us. Jesus models for us how to forgive, how to put them at ease, and how to show them that in spite of the past, we have confidence in them.

Jesus’ forgiveness of Peter is so great that he once again associates Peter to his work.“…when you were young  you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.”

This passage reminds us of Jesus being led like an innocent lamb to the slaughter for our salvation. Peter once again reconciled with Jesus and in Jesus’ friendship will have a share in the mission given to Jesus by the Father. In light of this Jesus invites Peter to follow him again as he did at the beginning of the public ministry.

Reconciliation is always an invitation to become one with and to share dreams and ideals and even the labours of bringing the dreams to fruition.

Reconciliation without sharing of dreams is superficial and shows a lack of confidence in the other. Jesus shows Peter that he really has confidence in him. He shares with him his dream and his work.

Jesus models for us how true leadership in the Christian community is to be exercised. In the Christian community true leadership is shown in the ability to forgive, in the ability to share dreams and ideals, in the ability to associate others to the work, in the ability to care for the other.

This type of leadership is not confined to the Christian community however. In all spheres of life, we are either called to be leaders or to follow leaders and we evaluate the type of leadership being offered, not by the words uttered but by the witness of life.

Are we or those who offer themselves for leadership positions, persons with the amplitude of spirit which is so necessary for forgiveness, persons capable of sharing visions and ideals, persons capable of associating others to the work, persons whose prime interest is the well-being of those to be served?

Or does our lifestyle and our manner of exercising leadership show that we are small spirited and more interested in our own aggrandisement than in the well being of those we are called to lead and to serve?

As we go about our tasks of leadership, whether as parents or in other spheres may we all be leaders after the example of Jesus.

Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, we thank you for the lessons in leadership which You give to us in the gospel passage. Throughout the scriptures your prophets excoriated those shepherds who looked after themselves before looking after the sheep. Help us to be shepherds after your own heart, capable of putting at ease those who have strayed, capable of sharing ideals and visions with those who have returned and capable of working for the well-being of those whom you have put in our care. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our mother and your Son Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Amen

Gospel Meditations for April are by Fr Joseph Harris, CSSp, a former rector of the Regional Seminary. Fr Harris is parish priest of St Ann's and the Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese.