Eyelash to Eyelash with God

In today's Gospel, Jesus is standing by a charcoal fire, and he invites his disciples to come towards him for breakfast. There is a deeper significance going on here, because the last time we saw a charcoal fire in the Gospel, it was in the courtyard of the high priest, while Jesus was awaiting trial. Peter stood by the fire, warming himself, and it was there that three times he denied knowing Jesus. Now at this charcoal fire, Jesus invites Peter to confess his love for him three times, forgiving his previous three betrayals. What a marvelous gift that Jesus gives Peter today: The gift of "re-con-cilia-tion" -- coming eyelash to eyelash (i.e. intimately close) with Jesus again.