“You were sheep gone astray but now are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

The image of shepherd and sheep is a life defining metaphor for St. Peter. As he writes the words no doubt St. Peter has in mind his encounter with the Risen Christ some 30 years earlier. It was an early morning on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, an encounter St. Peter would never forget.

Jesus: “Now is the Judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out…” And just a few moments later: Jesus: “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” So which is it? Jesus came to die and His death is the judgment of the world and yet he says he did not come to judge the world.

Those who believed in Him try to stone Him. Passion Sunday 2019