October 22, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel from the Readings for the Memorial: John 21:15-17
Reflect on the Word //
I sense His gentle invitation: It presents as another opportunity to extend outside the parameters of my self-imposed comfort zone. I feel my insides twist and swirl: it would be far easier to ignore His invitation and carry on as I'd planned.
A few moments pass and again that gentle invitation meets my heart, yet this time it is posed as a question: Shalini, do you love Me?
Of course I love You, Lord! What kind of silly question is that?! I think to myself, slightly frustrated with the Lord. And there it was—in that moment—that my heart pivoted: a realization that love begs of us an active, open, and willing response. That day, though, I met Love with a stony heart.
I am much like Peter from our Gospel for today’s Feast of Pope Saint John Paul II. I imagine Peter looking at Jesus each time Jesus asked if he loved Him with a bit of confusion, frustration and—as Scripture says—distress. Of course Peter loved Jesus! And Jesus—hearing each of Peter's responses—calls him into action. “Feed my lambs. [. . .] Tend my sheep. [. . .] Feed my sheep” (John 21:15, 16, 17).
Love is a verb. It is an action that springs forth from surrendered joy and trust that Jesus already knows it all. He knows our fears, our doubts, anxieties, the boundaries of our self-imposed comfort zones, the struggles and obstacles. And that does not stop Him from inviting us into action—movement forward, movement outside of ourselves—and closer to Him and who He created us to be.
God is not asking you to act from a place of perfect clarity, but from a place of deep trust in Him and great love for Him.
Our Saint of today, who was a successor of Peter, and a model of how to love God, reminds us of a deep truth: “Today Christ is asking each of you the same question: do you love Me? He is not asking you whether you know how to speak to crowds, whether you can direct an organization or manage an estate. He is asking you to love Him. All the rest will ensue” (source).
Relate to the Lord // How is God inviting you to trust and love Him in action today?
Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Coppell, Texas. She served with NET Ministries and went on to graduate with her J.D., though happily left all things law behind. Along with her roles as wife and mom, she now runs her own company, Pray. Train. Grow., as a Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. Her mission is to help Catholic women grow STRONG in mind, body, and heart through the integration of Faith, fitness and food.
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