#turn back

are they single

I love making progress.

Whatever kind of progress it is – whether we’re talking about health, relationships, careers, skills, hobbies – I love getting better.

My favorite kind of progress?

The kind where I don’t have to deal with anything I’ve done before. Where I don’t have to relearn anything, or dump my bad habits, or change. Much less apologize or make amends.

Where I can ignore all of that, pretend it never happened. And just focus on moving forward.

Too bad my favorite kind of “progress” only looks like progress. But doesn’t really do any lasting good.

I bring this up, because this is what’s going on in today’s Gospel. After the Resurrection, there’s this strange back and forth between Jesus and Peter.

Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?”

Peter says yes.

Jesus asks Peter again, “do you love me?”

Peter says yes again. But there’s something different, something off about the question the second time.

Jesus asks Peter a third time, “do you love me?”

Now there’s an edge to it. Because this is a call-back to Peter’s most shameful moment.

To the small hours of the morning on Good Friday. When Peter, the one who bragged about being with Jesus to the end, denied even knowing Jesus. Three times.

And Peter is gutted.

Because Peter wanted to ignore all of that, pretend it never happened. And just focus on moving forward.

But that’s not how it goes.

Because Jesus loves Peter too much to settle for something that only looks like progress. But doesn’t really do any lasting good.

That’s why Jesus is calling Peter to the only kind of progress that can do any lasting good. The kind that begins by turning back. To deal with what went wrong.

Before Peter can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Before Peter can live up to the new name that Jesus gave him. Before Peter can be who God made him to be. Before Peter can make any progress.

Peter has to turn back. Peter has to deal with what went wrong. Peter has to repair his relationship with Jesus.

The Gospel is showing us a universal truth. When things go wrong. Especially when we’re the reason why they went wrong. We can’t just ignore what we did. And try to keep on going like nothing happened.

It’s not healthy. And the longer we avoid it, the worse it gets.

You and I will never make any real progress towards being who God made us to be, without first turning back, and dealing with what went wrong.

Without repairing our relationship with God, there can be no progress. Not for Peter. Not for any of us.

It’s simple. But it’s not easy.

God will give you the courage to do it. If you have the humility to ask.

Turn back. Deal with it. Repair your relationship with God.

Then get ready to see real progress.

Go. God is waiting for you with open arms.