Commentary on the Gospel of
After the trauma of the crucifixion and his own shameful failure in loyalty, Peter is now a humble and broken man. He is deeper, softer, more human. At the first charcoal fire, he had betrayed his greatest friend three times (Jn 18:15ff); at the second charcoal fire he is given a three-fold chance to undo the damage and to profess his love. These two charcoal fires catch the eye in the half-light, and we can never forget their association. Peter, more than anyone, knows his own weakness and the mercy of Christ. He is the head of the new community. Every member of that new community is to learn this new reality: we should be deeper, softer, more human – bathed in the mercy of Christ.
