Passing the Torch

Would you want to know when and how you will die?

Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." - John 21:18

Today's reading includes this verse where Jesus is said to be foretelling Peter's death in old age.  How do you think Peter felt upon hearing this?

He was already upset with Jesus for asking him three times if he loved him, and then he hears this.

Wouldn't you like to have been there to hear the entire conversation, rather than just what survived retelling over time?

We know that Jesus wants him to take the reigns, to continue leading the followers after he is gone, but this passing of the torch is not going to be easy.

He asks Jesus who will betray him, possibly wanting to intercede and avoid the inevitable, but he doesn't get the answer he wants.

What he gets instead is something that will stay with him and remind him of his mission, to feed the sheep.  He will remember what Jesus asked him, and will know that there will come a time when he is not in control, led around by those who do not care what he wants for himself.

Perhaps that's a good message for all of us.

If we approach each day knowing there will come a time when we have little or no say in what we do, maybe we will be more apt to do what we need to do now, rather than wait.

And what it is we need to do is to lead by following.

Do you love me?

Then feed my sheep.

I can do that.

More to come...