29. Question IV. Likewise it is asked concerning what is said: This is now the third time Jesus manifested himself etc.
Why did the Lord manifest himself to the disciples at intervals and was not with them continuously until the ascension?
And Chrysostom responds that "he withdrew himself from their sight at times, so that he might be sought more eagerly, and being sought might be loved, and being loved might be venerated more remarkably and more devoutly."
Another reason: because the disciples, as long as the Lord was with them, loved him carnally; in order to dispose them to spiritual love and through this to the reception of the Holy Spirit, he therefore withdrew his bodily presence from their eyes little by little, until he fully withdrew it in the ascension, and then their love would become entirely spiritual. For this reason it is written above in the sixteenth chapter: "Unless I go away, the Paraclete will not come to you," etc.
30. When therefore they had dined, he says, etc. Above was described the manifestation of the risen Christ; here is described the confirmation of Peter in the love of Christ. And because what is confirmed tends toward perfection, therefore this part is divided into two. For first Peter is strengthened in the love of Christ; second, he is invited to the consummation of love, which is through suffering, at the words: Amen, amen I say to you, etc.
The confirmation therefore of Peter in love is accomplished by Christ's threefold questioning; hence there are three parts in the first part according to the three questions: the first, at the words: When therefore they had dined; the second, at the words: He says to him again: Simon, etc.; the third, at the words: He says to him a third time: Simon, etc.
The first therefore is described in this order: for there is set forth Christ's inquiry; second, Peter's response; and the Lord's exhortation is added.
Christ's inquiry was made through the manifestation, which was through the meal; therefore he says:
31. (Verse 15). When therefore they had dined. It should be noted that during the meal he did not ask about love, because, as is said in Sirach chapter six, "there is a friend who is a companion at table, and he will not remain in the day of necessity." But afterward he asks: Jesus says to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Therefore he asks about love, because he does not wish to entrust his flock except to one who loves; therefore about greater love, because he wishes to entrust it to one who loves more. Hence Gregory: "He who does not have charity ought by no means to undertake the office of preaching"; certainly much less the office of prelacy, because, as is said in John chapter ten, "the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep."
32. He says to him: Yes, Lord. Here is set forth Peter's response, in which he responds that he loves, but not that he loves more, because he did not know the love of the others. Hence Augustine: "That Peter responds, I love you, and did not add more than these: he responded what he knew about himself; for he could not know how much he was loved by another, because he could not see the heart of another." You know that I love you: in this response Peter shows that he does not respond in flattery, but truly. Hence Chrysostom: "He calls as witness him who knows hidden things." So Jeremiah invoked him, in the seventeenth chapter: "I have not desired the day of man, you know."
33. He says to him. Here is noted after the response the exhortation to action: because "the proof of love is the display of works"; therefore he says: Feed my lambs: in which the wondrous love of Christ for his sheep is expressed, because he showed this above all other things as a sign of his love: and this indeed Peter fulfilled and urged to be fulfilled, 1 Peter 5: "Elders, feed the flock of God which is among you," etc.
34. (Vers. 16.). He says to him again. Here is set forth the second inquiry, in which the procedure is similar, as before. For there is set forth Christ's inquiry: second, Peter's response: and third, the exhortation.
The Lord therefore inquires, as before, about love: Simon, son of John, do you love me? Simon, son of John he is called, because he was the son of John. - And Peter responds: He said to him: Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Bede: "O how faithful and pure a soul! which does not fear to say to its Creator, before whose eyes all things are naked and open: Lord, you know that I love you ."
He says to him. Here is set forth the exhortation, as before: Feed my lambs. He repeats the aforesaid exhortation: whence Bede: "This is the sole and true proof of complete love toward God: if you have striven to exercise the care of solicitous labor toward your brothers." Feed, namely by example, as he of whom it is said in the Psalm: "He fed them in the innocence of his heart."
35. (Vers. 17.). He says to him a third time. Here is set forth the third inquiry in the same order as before, namely question, response, exhortation.
The Lord therefore asks about the same thing: Simon, son of John, do you love me? From this text it is clear that to love is taken in a good sense, as to love. - And Peter was saddened. Here is noted Peter's response: but nevertheless he responded with sadness, because, as Chrysostom says, he feared lest it should happen to him as it happened when he said: "I will lay down my life for you"; and therefore he was saddened, because he said to him a third time: Do you love me? But nevertheless he did not despair; rather, he responded confidently and said to him: whence he adds to his response: Lord, you know all things, as God; you know that I love you, you know even better than I. For he knew that he was the one who said in Jeremiah 17: "I am the Lord who searches hearts and reins," that is, thoughts and affections.
He says to him: Feed my sheep. Here is noted the exhortation: and by sheep are understood the more perfect subjects.
It should be noted that the Lord commands to feed the sheep, not to shear them, not to devour them, because the pastor is not commanded by the love of Christ to feed himself, but the sheep; Ezekiel 34: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who fed themselves! Are not the sheep fed by the shepherds? You ate the milk and covered yourselves with the wool."
QUESTIONS.
36. Question I. But the question is asked here: since the other Apostles stood around, who loved the Lord, why was only Peter questioned about love?
There is one response: because the care of the flock was to be specially entrusted to him among the others, therefore he is specially asked about his love. Hence Chrysostom: "Peter was the foremost of the Apostles and the mouth of the disciples and the head of the college"; therefore, passing over and bypassing the others, he speaks to him about such things. - Another reason can also be assigned: because Peter had notably denied him, and therefore seemed not to be worthy to be placed before the other Apostles; therefore the Lord asks, so that he might show his charity excelling above the rest, and might confirm the pastoral office which he had given.
37. Question II. Likewise, since Peter could not answer this question: Do you love me more than these? because he did not know about the others, why does the Lord ask?
I respond: It must be said that the Lord asks this in order to show his excellence in the asking and his correction in the answering; hence Augustine: "That Peter loved the Lord more than the others is evidently apparent where, questioning him, he says: Do you love me more than these? Which indeed he knew, and yet he was asking, so that we too might know his love toward the Lord." And Peter's correction is shown in this, that he does not dare to place himself before the others, as above before the passion, when he said: "Even if all shall be scandalized in you, yet not I."
38. But then there is a question: why does the Lord ask so many times: Peter, do you love me?
Augustine responds: "He asks three times for this reason, so that a threefold confession might be rendered for the threefold denial, lest the tongue serve love less than it served fear."