Gospel in Art: Simon, do you love me more than these others do?

Christ's Charge to Peter, Cartoon for a Tapestry, by Raphael,1515 © On loan from the collection of His Majesty the King to V&A Museum, London

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 26 May 2023
John 21:15-19

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.' Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.

'I tell you most solemnly, 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.'

In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, 'Follow me.'

Reflection on the Tapestry Cartoon

Today's passage tells us about Peter's love for Jesus and ultimately what Peter will be called to do: help build Christ's Church. We basically witness a conversation between Jesus and Peter, both chatting away at Lake Galilee after Jesus has risen from the dead. On our large scale tapestry cartoon (cartoons took the form of a painting, made on cloth or paper, the same size as the planned tapestry; these cartoons would sit underneath the weaving looms, so the weavers would know exactly what to weave) we see the lake to the right and part of the fishing boat that the disciples had been using. Jesus appeared to them and he tells Peter 'Feed my lambs...look after my sheep'. We see Jesus pointing to the sheep with his right hand, showing Peter what his responsibilities are. Peter is kneeling, a sign of humbly accepting his newly assigned duties.

Before handing Peter the keys of responsibility (we can see Peter holding large keys), Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him. Jesus knew that Peter loved him with all his heart, but he wanted Peter to affirm his love. Jesus wanted to hear Peter say out loud that he loved Jesus. By saying things out loud, we affirm who we are and what we believe in.

Note how the disciples in our cartoon are all staring at Jesus, and not at Peter. Their focus remains on Jesus, and not on Peter. The present cartoon is part of a set of seven which were commissioned from Raphael (1483-1520) by Pope Leo X in 1515. The tapestries were intended to hang in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. They belong to the British Royal Collection, but since 1865 have been on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where they can still be admired. The actual tapestries (based on these cartoons and woven in Brussels) are hung on very special occasions in the Sistine Chapel.

Just as Peter had denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion, the risen Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love three times. This helped Peter move on from a burden of the guilt of having denied Jesus, to start his new mission afresh, by expressing his love for his master.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-21-15-19-2023/