THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER HOMILY YEAR C
Acts 5: 27-32, 40f.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Rev 5:11-14Ā Ā Ā Jn 21:1-19 (or 1-14)
Joyful Growth through Suffering
The Reality of the Resurrection; Peter the Head of the Church; The Universality of the Church
1st Reading ā Acts 5:27-32, 40B-41
27Ā When the captain and the court officers had brought the apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them,
28Ā āWe gave you strict orders, did we not, to stop teaching in that name?Ā Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this manās blood upon us.ā
29Ā But Peter and the apostles said in reply, āWe must obey God rather than men.
30Ā The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
31Ā God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
32Ā We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.ā
40BĀ The Sanhedrin ordered the apostles to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
41Ā So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
Responsorial Psalm ā Psalms 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
2Ā I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
4Ā O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
5Ā Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
6Ā For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
11Ā Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
12AĀ You changed my mourning into dancing;
13CĀ O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
2nd Reading ā Revelation 5:11-14
11Ā I, John, looked and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living
creatures and the elders. They were countless in number,
12Ā and they cried out in a loud voice: āWorthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.ā
13Ā Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: āTo the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.ā
14Ā The four living creatures answered, āAmen, ā and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ is risen, creator of all;
he has shown pity on all people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel ā John 21:1-19
1Ā At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.
2Ā Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedeeās sons, and two others of his disciples.
3Ā Simon Peter said to them, āI am going fishing.ā They said to him, āWe also will come with you.ā So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Ā When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5Ā Jesus said to them, āChildren, have you caught anything to eat?ā They answered him, āNo.ā
6Ā So he said to them, āCast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.ā So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
7Ā So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, āIt is the Lord.ā When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.
8Ā The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
9Ā When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
10Ā Jesus said to them, āBring some of the fish you just caught.ā
11Ā So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.Ā Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12Ā Jesus said to them, āCome, have breakfast.ā And none of the disciples dared to ask him, āWho are you?ā because they realized it was the Lord.
13Ā Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.
14Ā This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
15Ā When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, āSimon, son of John, do you love me more than these?ā Simon Peter answered him, āYes, Lord, you know that I love you.ā Jesus said to him, āFeed my lambs.ā
16Ā He then said to Simon Peter a second time, āSimon, son of John, do you love me?āĀ Simon Peter answered him, āYes, Lord, you know that I love you.ā
Jesus said to him, āTend my sheep.ā
17Ā Jesus said to him the third time, āSimon, son of John, do you love me?ā Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, āDo you love me?ā and he said to him, āLord, you know everything; you know that I love you.ā Jesus said to him, āFeed my sheep.
18Ā Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.ā
19Ā He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, āFollow me.ā
Or John 21:1-14
1Ā At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.
2Ā Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedeeās sons, and two others of his disciples.
3Ā Simon Peter said to them, āI am going fishing.ā They said to him, āWe also will come with you.ā So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Ā When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5Ā Jesus said to them, āChildren, have you caught anything to eat?ā They answered him, āNo.ā
6Ā So he said to them, āCast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.ā So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
7Ā So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, āIt is the Lord.ā When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.
8Ā The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
9Ā When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
10Ā Jesus said to them, āBring some of the fish you just caught.ā
11Ā So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.Ā Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12Ā Jesus said to them, āCome, have breakfast.ā And none of the disciples dared to ask him, āWho are you?ā because they realized it was the Lord.
13Ā Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.
14Ā This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Homily
The time after Jesusā resurrection consisted of days of anguish as well as joy, during which the Apostles had to resume their ordinary work. Life had to go on! They had families to feed and support! So, far many of them, it was back to finishing on the Lake of Galilee.
It was there that day todayās Gospel story of seven disciples, led by St Peter, took place. The scene began at night, considered the best time for fishing. The boat would glide smoothly over the lake, torch blazing; the men would stare into the water until they saw a school of fish, and then, quick as lighting, skillfully throw their net or spear. Often, though, the tried fishermen would return to the dock in the morning with nothing to show for their work.
In todayās story, something in the modus operandi of the man standing on the shore caused St John to recognize the risen Lord. That wasnāt as easy as it may sound. Jesusā body was the resurrected one, not the resuscitated one. His appearance was different from when they had known him before; for example, he might not have cast a shadow. When John pointed out Jesusā identity, Peter, wanting to show Jesus he eagerness, became impatient with the slow-moving boat. He couldnāt wait to tie his loose shirt so it wouldnāt float when he jumped into water. For a Jew of that time, to offer a greeting was, after all, a religious act, and for it a man must be properly clothed. Though the other disciples came quickly in the boat, it was Peter who assumed the lead. He was beginning to grow into becoming a ārockā.
On shore, the fire, the fish, and the bread were another surprise. Because of the heavenly glory that was now Christās, his presence gave a solemnity to the scene. Nevertheless, the Apostles took the time to abide by their routine of counting their fish, the usual purpose of which was to divide the catch equitably. Many Scripture scholars have used the number of fish and the unbroken net to symbolize that the Church can hold a great number of people of all kinds without the loss of her unity.
To show the universality of the Church was, in fact, one of Johnās purposes in writing this chapter of his Gospel. The other was to show ā again ā the reality of Jesusā resurrection ā to insist that the Risen Christ was not a hallucination or a spirit, but a real person. A hallucination or a spirit wasnāt likely to kindle a fire on a seashore or to cook a meal and share in eating it. The words John used for the meal ā Jesus took the bread and gave it to them ā allude to the Eucharist.
After the meal, the scene changed to Jesusā dialog with Peter. He began by asking Peter three times whether Peter loved him. Not only is that a central question of every Christianās life; Jesusā followers are to be led by love and Jesusā presence is recognizable only by love. Peter was full of sadness and confusion. Was Jesus alluding to his past sin of denying him three times and asking, āDo you love me now, at last?ā Or was Jesus asking, āDo you love me more than you love the nets, the boat, and a catch of fish? Or was he asking, āDo you love me more than your fellow disciples do?ā
Perhaps we recognize something of ourselves in the story of the Apostle Peter. In many ways, he is just like us. He was so simple, and yet so complex! When life got perplexing and too much for him, his strategy was direct, with his simple announcement, āI am going fishing.ā
He was aware that he had often left much to be desired. When, for example, Jesus had given him permission to walk on water, and then Peter saw the first difficulty coming his way in the form of a wave, his faith began to leave and he began to sink. And there were other incidents ā when he had stupid chided JesusĀ at the Lordās prediction of his passion, when he had selfishly wanted to stay forever at Jesusā transfiguration, when he had childishly wanted to know how many times to forgive injuries, when at the Last Supper he didnāt want Jesus to wash his feet, when in the Garden of Gethsemane he had slept and then impulsively cut off the ear of the high priestās servant, when he had a glorious side, too, which was the reason for his ability to grow in fidelity and loyalty. Peterās potential was the reason for Jesusā asking him the leader of the Church.
Even today, though, Peter seems insensitive. When he met Jesus ā met him after having denied him ā he acted as if nothing significant had happened. As if nothing required comment or apology, he quickly ate his breakfast. But next to this charcoal fire on which fish had been cooked, perhaps he was thinking of that other fire ā that charcoal fire at which he warmed himself during Jesusā trial, warmed himself while he denied Jesus.
But Peter would no longer dare to say anything that would put him above the rest ā no bold claims, no rash promises. He couldnāt even answer with the same word for āloveā that Jesus used. Jesusā word ā agapas in the Greek of Johnās Gospel ā involved sacrifice, and Peter remembered that, after his previous grandiose promise to lay down his life for Jesus, he had denied Jesus three times. So, unsure of whether he was capable of that highest kind of love, he answered by affirming, again in the Gospelās original Greek, philo, a love of feeling, of sentiment, of affection, and of attachment. Of those he was sure.
Upon Peterās reply, the consequences of true love followed ā responsibility and sacrifice. Jesus indicated Peterās responsibility by directing him to āfeed my lambsā and āfeed my sheep.ā He was making Peter his great shepherd. Then there was sacrifice. In Peterās case, Jesus predicted that Peterās love would involve the greatest sacrifice of all ā his life. Then Jesus said to Peter, āFollow me.ā Jesusā work was finished. And Peter could truly āfollowā the Lord fully. Peter was not capable, like John, of lofty writings that soared like an eagle or, like Paul able to travel to the ends of the known world for Christ ā but his determination to follow the Lord and to lead the Apostles enabled him to be the first head of the Church.
And Peter went on from greatness to greatness. His growth, like most of ours, was not a perceptible, continuous, eternal march upward, but a saw ā toothed progress. Todayās First Reading records one of his five sermons in the Acts of the Apostles. In it, Peter for the first time used the word āsaviorā (v. 31), that precious word referring to Jesus as the liberator of Israel and the forgiver of peopleās sins. To the Sanhedrin, the powerful leaders of the Jews before whom Peter spoke, this made Peter a heretic. To them, Peter and the Apostles were also a threat, because they were potential disturbers of the peace. If there were an uprising, Rome would come in to reestablish order and in the process would eliminate the Sanhedrinās prestige. The proud members of the Sanhedrin were not about to let that happen.
The response of Peter and the Apostles showed them for what they were ā men of courage, no longer aiming at āplaying it safeā; men of principle, putting obedience to Godās word before everything else; and men with a clear idea of their duty, which was to witness for Christ. Peterās response must always be ours. Better for us to obey God rather than people! The Sanhedrin, after giving some words of warning, dismissed the Apostles. For their part, the apostle left the Sanhedrin āfull of joyā. Joy is the one unfailing sign of the Spiritās presence, and the greatest sentiment of this Easter season. Here the Apostles were full of joy because they had an opportunity to share in Christās suffering.
This kind of love and joy provide the vision of heaven recounted in todayās passage from St Johnās Book of Revelation. Johnās heavenly vision contrasts with the anxiety of the court scene of Peter and the Apostles. John frequently took his language in this book from the Jewish Scriptures. In todayās section, the hymn is to āthe Lamb that was slainā, that most powerful central image in the vision of John. The symbol recalled the bloody sacrifice of the Hebrews all right, but more compellingly Jesus in his death. The animal known for its meekness is now the conqueror, In Johnās hymns to the Lordās glory, the universal chorus of praise swells to a symphony. It reaches throughout the breadth of creation; it canāt go any farther. And it goes to the very height of Johnās concept of Jesus ā that Jesus now sits by the side of God.
For us, as for Peter, recognition of Jesus often comes slowly, sometimes in and through contact with others. We have all, like Peter and the other Apostles, responded in love. That often involves self-sacrifice, and perhaps suffering. Our modern opponents have discovered that killing people makes memorable martyrs of them, so the tactic of our day is condescending ridicule ā the deception that the Church looks silly, unrealistic, decadent, and completely unworthy of the belief of a reasonable person.
We should accept that suffering ā not in despair and self-pity, but āfull of joyā. One job of reverses like suffering is to make sure we donāt get to comfortable and fall asleep and miss our life. Jesusā resurrection shows that through suffering and death one can achieve triumph. A little girl, upon finding a butterfly cocoon, brought it home. She waited with eager expectation until the day for the butterfly to come out finally arrived. A tiny head appeared, munching its way through the gray, paper-thin wall. She viewed the little creature with love, but was not prepared for how long it would take and how difficult a time the butterfly would have. With a small stick, ever so carefully, she decided to help the butterfly. Within moments instead of hours the butterfly was free. Then it tried to fly, but when it stretched its wings, it fell and died. Ā āWhat happened?ā the little girl pleaded, teary-eyed, to her father. āI even helped.ā āThe butterfly needed that struggle,ā her father answered.Ā āWithout that, it wasĀ Ā never able to strengthen its wings enough to fly.ā
This basic principle of the Christian life is conveyed by the Apostlesā joy at suffering for Jesusā sake (todayās First Reading), by John the Evangelistās comment on Jesusā word to Peter about his death (Gospel) and by the vision of the victorious Lamb that was slain (Second Reading). As in all these images, we are to be sensitive to coming to recognize his presence in family, friendships, community, and work.