He Waits at the Bottom with a Question: “Do You Love Me?”
June 6, 2025 - Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
John 21:15-19
There was a moment in my life when I thought I had lost everything.
I had been sent on a mission of my life. I gave it my heart — my energy, my faith.
And yet, it didn’t end the way I hoped. I left that place feeling I had failed Jesus.
I blamed myself. I didn’t know how to move forward.
Have you ever been there?
Not just struggling — but empty.
Not just tired — but deeply ashamed?
That place where your nets have come up empty after a long night?
It turns out — that’s exactly where Jesus comes.
John 21 begins in the dark.
Peter and the others fish all night.
They catch nothing.
Then, at dawn, Jesus appears — but they don’t recognize Him.
He tells them to cast the net again.
The net is filled to bursting.
Peter throws himself into the sea. And when he reaches the shore?
A fire is already burning.
Bread is already baking.
Fish is already waiting.
Jesus says:
“Come and have breakfast.”
No rebuke.
No lecture.
Just food. Presence. Mercy.
Then comes His only question:
“Do you love Me?”
The Heart of the Message
“He doesn’t wait at the top —
He waits at the bottom.”
Not at the height of our success.
Not when we’ve proven ourselves.
Not when everything is in order.
He comes when the nets are empty.
When the heart is tired.
When the night has been long.
That’s where the Risen Christ waits —
by the fire, with bread in His hands.
What This Means Today
Maybe some of you are there now.
Your own night has been long.
You’ve worked, tried, struggled — and still feel empty.
Maybe you carry guilt, regret, or quiet shame.
Maybe you wonder: “Can I still come to Him?”
Yes.
Because He is already standing on your shore.
He has lit the fire.
He has prepared the meal.
He is waiting — not to condemn you — but to feed you.
And He asks only this:
“Do you love Me?”
If you can whisper even a quiet yes,
He will receive it.
He will feed you.
And He will call you again.
Today, He comes again —
not with bread and fish, but with His Body and Blood.
The same Jesus who fed Peter by the sea
now feeds us at the altar.
He comes to us in the Eucharist —
not because we are worthy,
but because we are hungry.
And when you stretch out your hands —
with faith or with fear —
He will place into them the food of His mercy.
He doesn’t wait at the top.
He waits at the bottom.
And He is here.
Now.
For you.
I have recovered from that seemingly failed mission.
I’ve had small successes since then.
But I’ve come to see that the Gospel does not end with success.
It ends with a command:
“Follow Me.”
We have been fed.
We have been forgiven.
We have felt His love.
Now He looks into our eyes and says again:
“Follow Me.”
Even if we’re still tired.
Even if we’re still mending nets.
Even if we feel unworthy.
He calls.
And He walks ahead.
Let’s follow Him.