Commentary on the Gospel of
Love with Holes
In the “You know that I love you” confession of Peter, there is more than a confession of love—there is the confession of love’s failings as well. At the successive repetition of the question by Jesus, Peter’s confession reveals a deepening awareness of the imperfections of his love; and at the third time, he would preface it thus: “Lord, you know everything…” Peter knows that his master knew that his love had holes. His was a love which, even when it boasted of its fidelity in the light of the day, would grow cold feet in the dark of the night. Peter now realizes that to love as his Master loved, he must let the Master do the loving through him. This confession of holes in his love was enough for the Master to soon pour in his Spirit of love into him. Peter’s love would then grow feet and wings.
