Third Sunday of Easter
Lectionary:
48
Reading
When the captain and the court officers had brought the apostles
in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders, did we not,
to stop teaching in that name?
Yet you have filledJerusalem
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grantIsrael
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
The Sanhedrin ordered the apostles
to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders, did we not,
to stop teaching in that name?
Yet you have filled
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
The Sanhedrin ordered the apostles
to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
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 PsalmPS 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12,
13
R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for
you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
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.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
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.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
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.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
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.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading
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, and they cried out in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and in the sea,
everything in the universe, cry out:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”
The four living creatures answered, “Amen,”
and the elders fell down and worshiped.
GospelJN 21:1-19
At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias Galilee ,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
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.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
Jesus said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
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.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana inGalilee ,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “ am going fishing.”
They said to him, “e also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
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.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “ am going fishing.”
They said to him, “e also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
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.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
Scripture Study
April 14, 2013 Third Sunday of Easter
Happy Easter! Yes it is still Easter. After spending the 40 days
of Lent preparing ourselves for Easter we spend the 50 days of the Easter
Season celebrating the core event of our faith. During this time the readings
tell us about the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to the disciples and
what those appearances mean to us as followers of the "Risen One."
This Sunday the Church celebrates the Third Sunday of Easter. The first and second readings for this Sunday deal with the imperative to carry out the mission given to us (the Church) by Jesus who as the Lamb that was slain must be proclaimed to all. The gospel reading tells of Peter's rehabilitation and his installation as the one charged by Jesus to tend His flock.
FirstReading
27 When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, 28 "We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filledJerusalem Israel
40 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. 41 So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
NOTES on FirstReading
The first reading begins with the apostles being tried before the Sanhedrin for preaching the name of Jesus against their orders. They reply that their duty to obey God comes first.
* 5:30 "Hanging him on a tree" is a common first century expression for "crucifying him." There is an allusion to Deut 21:22 (see also Gal 3:13).
* 5:31 "At His right hand" is an expression for "at the place of honor."
* 5:41 The apostles were glad to suffer for Christ.
SecondReading
11 I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, 12 and they cried out in a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing."
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."
14 The four living creatures answered, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 5:11-14 This description of the acclamations of large numbers of beings of every class and the elders' act of prostration recall the honors given to the Roman emperor at that time. By having them presented to God and to the Lamb rather than the emperor John reflects his vision of the conflict between the rule of God and the rule of Caesar.
* 5:11 The words translated as "Countless" literally means "100,000,000 plus 1,000,000," which is being used by the author to express infinity.
GospelReading : John 21: 1-19
1 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at theSea of Tiberias Galilee ,
Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them,
"I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with
you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught
nothing. 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the
disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them,
"Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him,
"No." 6 So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of
the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able
to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved
said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was
the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into
the sea. 8 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. 9 When they
climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." 11 So
Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred
fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the
disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it
was the Lord. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in
like manner the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his
disciples after being raised from the dead.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 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." 19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
NOTES on Gospel:
* 21:1-23 There are many peculiarities in this chapter, including both non-Johannine and Johannine features. Some of them suggest Lucan Greek style but this passage is closer to John than is John 7:53-8:11. The closest parallels to this passage in the synoptic gospels are found in Luke 5:1-11 and Matthew 14:28-31. One suggested explanation is that the tradition was ultimately derived from John but preserved by some disciple other than the writer of the rest of the gospel. The appearances narrated in Chapter 21 seem to be independent of those in John 20 although much of what happened in chapter 20 seems to be presupposed here. This chapter appears in all manuscripts and therefore even if it is a later addition it must have been added before publication of the gospel.
* 21:2 The only reference to James and John in this gospel is here as Zebedee's sons. Perhaps the phrase was originally a gloss to identify, among the five, the two others of his disciples. The anonymity used in the latter phrase is more Johannine (John 1:35). The total of seven may have been intended to suggest the community of the disciples in its fullness.
* 21:3-6 Some have suggested that this may be a variant of Luke's account of the catch of fish in Luke 5:1-11.
* 21:9 Note that here Jesus already has fish even though none have yet been brought ashore.
* 21:11 The exact number 153 is probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles' universal mission but we are unsure as to what exactly that meaning is.St. Jerome
* 21:12 " None . . . dared to ask him" would seem to imply that Jesus' appearance was strange to them but that somehow they still recognized Him in some way before "the breaking of the bread" in contrast to Luke 24:35. See Luke 24:16; Mark 16:12; John 20:14.
* 12-13 This meal may have had Eucharistic significance for early Christians since John 21:13 recalls John 6:11 which uses the vocabulary of Jesus' action at the Last Supper. However, many of the actions described were usual at any Jewish meal, that correspondence does not necessarily indicate a Eucharistic reference here.
* 21:14 This verse acts as the connection between John 20 and 21. See John 20:19,26.
* 21:15-23 This section constitutes Peter's rehabilitation with the reversal of his triple denial and then emphasizes his role in the church as shepherd and martyr.
* 21:15-17 These three verses contain a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see the note on John 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (John 18:17,25,27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock. The words Jesus uses for love are related to the Greek agapao, as in John 15:9-13a, and the words Peter uses for love are related to the Greek phileo, as in John 15:13b-15. Some interpretations of the word differences here may be overly detailed considering the possibility that for John, at least sometimes, as in chapter 15, the two roots seem synonymous and appear to mean "to love".
* 21:15 The meaning of "more than these" is probably "more than these disciples do" rather than "more than you love them" or "more than you love these things [fishing, etc.]." Unlike at the Last Supper Peter does not delve into superlatives and bravado. He simply expresses his love and trusts in Jesus knowledge of his heart.
* 21:18 This may have originally been a proverb about old age but is now used as a figurative reference to the crucifixion of Peter.
* 21:19 Peter is now told to do what Jesus told him he could not do back at the Last Supper (13:36-38). That is the same thing we are all told to do, "Follow Him."
www.st-raymond-dublin.orgThis Sunday the Church celebrates the Third Sunday of Easter. The first and second readings for this Sunday deal with the imperative to carry out the mission given to us (the Church) by Jesus who as the Lamb that was slain must be proclaimed to all. The gospel reading tells of Peter's rehabilitation and his installation as the one charged by Jesus to tend His flock.
First
27 When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, 28 "We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled
40 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. 41 So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
NOTES on First
The first reading begins with the apostles being tried before the Sanhedrin for preaching the name of Jesus against their orders. They reply that their duty to obey God comes first.
* 5:30 "Hanging him on a tree" is a common first century expression for "crucifying him." There is an allusion to Deut 21:22 (see also Gal 3:13).
* 5:31 "At His right hand" is an expression for "at the place of honor."
* 5:41 The apostles were glad to suffer for Christ.
Second
11 I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, 12 and they cried out in a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing."
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."
14 The four living creatures answered, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 5:11-14 This description of the acclamations of large numbers of beings of every class and the elders' act of prostration recall the honors given to the Roman emperor at that time. By having them presented to God and to the Lamb rather than the emperor John reflects his vision of the conflict between the rule of God and the rule of Caesar.
* 5:11 The words translated as "Countless" literally means "100,000,000 plus 1,000,000," which is being used by the author to express infinity.
Gospel
1 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 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." 19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
NOTES on Gospel:
* 21:1-23 There are many peculiarities in this chapter, including both non-Johannine and Johannine features. Some of them suggest Lucan Greek style but this passage is closer to John than is John 7:53-8:11. The closest parallels to this passage in the synoptic gospels are found in Luke 5:1-11 and Matthew 14:28-31. One suggested explanation is that the tradition was ultimately derived from John but preserved by some disciple other than the writer of the rest of the gospel. The appearances narrated in Chapter 21 seem to be independent of those in John 20 although much of what happened in chapter 20 seems to be presupposed here. This chapter appears in all manuscripts and therefore even if it is a later addition it must have been added before publication of the gospel.
* 21:2 The only reference to James and John in this gospel is here as Zebedee's sons. Perhaps the phrase was originally a gloss to identify, among the five, the two others of his disciples. The anonymity used in the latter phrase is more Johannine (John 1:35). The total of seven may have been intended to suggest the community of the disciples in its fullness.
* 21:3-6 Some have suggested that this may be a variant of Luke's account of the catch of fish in Luke 5:1-11.
* 21:9 Note that here Jesus already has fish even though none have yet been brought ashore.
* 21:11 The exact number 153 is probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles' universal mission but we are unsure as to what exactly that meaning is.
* 21:12 " None . . . dared to ask him" would seem to imply that Jesus' appearance was strange to them but that somehow they still recognized Him in some way before "the breaking of the bread" in contrast to Luke 24:35. See Luke 24:16; Mark 16:12; John 20:14.
* 12-13 This meal may have had Eucharistic significance for early Christians since John 21:13 recalls John 6:11 which uses the vocabulary of Jesus' action at the Last Supper. However, many of the actions described were usual at any Jewish meal, that correspondence does not necessarily indicate a Eucharistic reference here.
* 21:14 This verse acts as the connection between John 20 and 21. See John 20:19,26.
* 21:15-23 This section constitutes Peter's rehabilitation with the reversal of his triple denial and then emphasizes his role in the church as shepherd and martyr.
* 21:15-17 These three verses contain a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see the note on John 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (John 18:17,25,27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock. The words Jesus uses for love are related to the Greek agapao, as in John 15:9-13a, and the words Peter uses for love are related to the Greek phileo, as in John 15:13b-15. Some interpretations of the word differences here may be overly detailed considering the possibility that for John, at least sometimes, as in chapter 15, the two roots seem synonymous and appear to mean "to love".
* 21:15 The meaning of "more than these" is probably "more than these disciples do" rather than "more than you love them" or "more than you love these things [fishing, etc.]." Unlike at the Last Supper Peter does not delve into superlatives and bravado. He simply expresses his love and trusts in Jesus knowledge of his heart.
* 21:18 This may have originally been a proverb about old age but is now used as a figurative reference to the crucifixion of Peter.
* 21:19 Peter is now told to do what Jesus told him he could not do back at the Last Supper (13:36-38). That is the same thing we are all told to do, "Follow Him."
Meditation: "After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the
Why didn’t the apostles immediately recognize the
Lord Jesus when he greeted them at the Sea of Tiberias Jerusalem Galilee .
When was the last time Peter was commanded to let down his net after a futile
night of fishing? It was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee when the Lord dramatically approached Peter in
his fishing boat after a futile night of fishing and commanded him to lower his
nets (see Luke 5:4-11).
After the miraculous catch, Jesus told Peter that he would be ‘catching people”
for the kingdom
of God
Skeptics who
disbelieve the resurrection say the disciples only saw a vision of Jesus. The
gospels, however, give us a vivid picture of the reality of the resurrection.
Jesus went out of his way to offer his disciples various proofs of his
resurrection – that he is real and true flesh, not just a spirit or ghost. In
his third appearance to the apostles, after Jesus performed the miraculous
catch of fish, he prepared a breakfast and ate with them. Peter’s prompt
recognition of the Master and exclamation, "It is the Lord!" stands
in sharp contrast to his previous denial of his Master during the night of
arrest. The Lord Jesus is ready to reveal himself to each one of us as we
listen for his voice and open our hearts to receive his word. Do you recognize
the Lord's presence in your life and do you receive his word with faith?Why did Jesus question Peter’s love and loyalty three times in front of the other apostles? It must have caused Peter pain and sorrow since he had publicly denied Jesus three times. Now Peter, full of remorse and humility, unequivocally stated that he loved his master and was willing to serve him whatever it might cost. When Jesus asks him "do you love me more than these?" he may have pointed to the boats, nets and catch of fish. He may have challenged Peter to abandon his work for the task of shepherding God's people. Jesus also may have pointed to the other disciples and to Peter's previous boast: "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away" (Matthew 26:33). Peter now makes no boast or comparison but humbly responds: "You know I love you".
The Lord Jesus calls each one of us, even in our own personal weakness and sin, to declare our loyalty to him that we love him first and foremost, above all else.
"Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with your love and remove everything that is unloving, unkind, ungrateful, unholy and not in accord with your will."
www.dailyscripture.net
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The Fisher of
Men Is Not Let off the Hook
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Third Sunday of Easter
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Father James Swanson, LC After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are present here and now as I turn to you in prayer. I trust and have confidence in your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love, thank you for your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return. Petition: Lord, you know that I love you, but increase my love. 1. Peter Receives Poor Job Performance Ratings: The Lord has given Peter a job, and he expects Peter to do it. But Peter has proven himself unworthy; he denied Jesus three times in the house of the High Priest on the night Jesus was handed over. When Jesus needed him most, Peter turned away from him. What is Jesus’ response? Does he take away the leadership position from Peter and give it to someone else? Hasn’t John shown that he is better suited to be the leader of the apostles, to be the rock Jesus can build his Church on? He never ran away or denied Jesus, even when the High Priest, knowing John was also a disciple, could easily have killed him along with Jesus. Yet Jesus does not take the job away from Peter and give it to John. Rather, he turns to Peter again and expresses his confidence in him. 2. Peter Overestimates Himself through Pride: Peter had a deep love for Jesus, but not deep enough. On the night of the Last Supper, he thought he was capable of dying for Jesus, but he was wrong. When the test came, Peter came up short. Like Peter, we tend to overestimate our own readiness to follow Jesus. We do fine under ordinary circumstances, but when difficult moments come – temptations, opposition, even persecution – we fail. Like Peter, we come up short. We love the Lord, but not enough. Jesus’ reaction to us is the same: He does not lose confidence in us. Neither does he let us off the hook. He expects us to grow into the job. 3. The Job Is Yours; Keep Working on the Qualifications: What is Peter’s shortcoming? He doesn’t love Jesus enough. His love was real, but there were still things greater than his love – his fear for instance. On the night of the Last Supper, he ran away when Jesus was arrested. He denied Jesus three times. In each instance, his fear was greater than his love. To be the first Pope, he needed greater love than that. He needed a love without limits. That is why Jesus asks him three times: “Do you love me?” He is telling Peter that the qualification for the job is unlimited love. Peter has to have an unlimited love in order to be the rock on which Jesus builds his Church. Jesus is not letting him off the hook. He isn’t giving the job to someone else. Peter has to get that love, just as I have to develop an unlimited love to qualify for the tasks in life that Jesus has given me. Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know that when you gave me the responsibilities I have, you gave me the grace to fulfill them, too. Help me not to be lazy or irresponsible in serving you. Encourage me like you encouraged Peter, so I can fulfill all you expect from me in this life.
Resolution: I will work on improving myself today. Maybe
I can find a spiritual book that will help me get closer to God. Maybe I can
find a class or conference that will help me in some aspect of what God
expects from me – parenting, prayer, charity, etc. – and sign up for it
today.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 14
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
JOHN 21:1-19
(Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14)
KEY VERSE: "Jesus said to him `Feed my sheep'" (v 17).
READING: After the resurrection, Jesus revealed himself once again on the
REFLECTING: Am I a good shepherd to the flock the Lord has given me?
PRAYING: Risen Lord, give me the grace to declare my faith in you before others.
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I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me
‘It is the Lord.’
As was the case in other post-resurrection appearances by Jesus, recognition is somewhat delayed. The fishermen had obeyed the advice of the stranger and were rewarded with a large haul of fish. After his resurrection, Jesus takes centre stage. Peter is presented with three opportunities to confirm his love for Jesus.
This passage is in stark contrast to Jesus being denied three times by Peter in the early part of Jesus’ passion. Immediately after Peter affirms his love for him, Jesus forewarns Peter of what lies ahead for him. That is, death as a martyr for his faith in Jesus and thereby confirming his professed love. Let us pray for the grace to be confirmed in our faith.
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April 14
Blessed Peter Gonzalez
(d. 1246)
After retiring from the court, Peter devoted the remainder of his life to preaching in northwest
Peter Gonzalez died in 1246 and was beatified in 1741.
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LECTIO: 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER (C)
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Love reveals the presence of the Lord
An invitation to the Eucharist of the Risen One
John 21: 1-19
1. Opening prayer
Father, send your Holy Spirit that the fruitless night of our life may be transformed into the radiant dawn that enables us to know your Son Jesus present among us. Let your Spirit breathe on the waters of our sea, as he did at the moment of creation, to open our hearts to the invitation of the Lord’s love and that we may share in the banquet of his Body and his Word. May your Spirit burn within us, Father, that we may become witnesses of Jesus, like Peter and John and the other disciples, and that we too may go out every day to become fishermen and women for your kingdom. Amen.
2. The word of the Lord for today
a) A reading of the passage:
1 Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll come with you.' They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.
4 When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus called out, 'Haven't you caught anything, friends?' And when they answered, 'No,' 6 he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. 7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.
9 As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. 10 Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' 11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, 'Who are you?'. They knew quite well it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. 14 This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.
15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' 16 A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.' 17 Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep. 18 In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.' 19 In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, 'Follow me.'
b) The context of the passage:
After this first contact with the passage, I now feel the need to better understand its context. I pick up the Bible and do not allow superficial first impressions influence me. I try to search and listen. I open chapter 21 of John’s Gospel, practically at the end of the Gospel. The end of anything usually contains all that went before it, everything that was built up bit by bit. This catch on the
Then, if I turn back just a little the pages of the Gospel, I find the wonderful passage concerning the resurrection: the haste by night of Mary Magdalene and the other women to the sepulchre, the discovery of the empty tomb, Peter and John’s race, their looking into the sepulchre, their contemplation, their faith; I still find the eleven behind locked doors in the cenacle and then the risen Jesus comes in, the gift of the Spirit, the absence and unbelief of Thomas, a belief regained with the second coming in of Jesus; I hear that wonderful proclamation of the beatitude, which is for all of us today, called to believe without having seen.
Then I too go to the waters of that sea, on a night with no catch, empty handed. But it is here and now that I am visited, embraced by the manifestation, the revelation of the Lord Jesus. I too am here, then, to recognize him, to throw myself into the sea and go towards him to share in the banquet, to let him dig deep into my heart with his questions, his words, so that once more He may repeat to me: “Follow me!” and I, at last, may say to him “Here I am!”, fuller, truer and stronger and for ever.
c) A subdivision of the text:
v.1: With the verb ‘revealed’, John immediately draws our attention to a great event about to take place. The power of Jesus’ resurrection has not yet ceased to invade the lives of the disciples and thus of the Church. It is just a matter of being prepared to accept the light, the salvation offered by Christ. As he reveals himself in this text now, so also he will go on revealing himself in the lives of believers, also in our lives.
vv. 2- 3: Peter and the other six disciples go out from the locked cenacle and go to the sea to fish, but after a whole night of labour, they catch nothing. It is the dark, the solitude, the inability of human endeavours.
vv. 4-8: Finally the dawn comes, light returns and Jesus appears standing on the shore of the sea. But the disciples do not recognize him yet; they need to embark on a very deep interior journey. The initiative comes from the Lord who, by his words, helps them to see their need, their situation: they have nothing to eat. Then he invites them to cast the net again. Obedience to his Word works the miracle and the catch is abundant. John, the disciple of love, recognizes the Lord and shouts his faith to the other disciples. Peter believes and immediately throws himself into the sea to go as quickly as possible to the Lord and Master. The others, however, follow dragging the boat and the net.
vv. 9-14: The scene now changes on land, where Jesus had been waiting for the disciples. Here a banquet takes place: Jesus’ bread is joined to the disciples’ fish, his life and his gift become one with their life and gift. It is the power of the Word made flesh, made existence.
vv. 15-18: Now Jesus addresses Peter directly heart to heart; it is a very powerful moment of love from which I cannot separate myself, because those same words of the Lord are written and repeated also for me, today. It is a mutual declaration of love repeated three times, capable of overcoming all infidelities and weaknesses. From now on a new life begins for Peter and for me, if I so desire.
v. 19: This last verse of the text is rather unusual because it is a comment of the Evangelist followed immediately by Jesus’ very powerful and definitive word to Peter: “Follow me!”, to which there is no other reply than life itself.
3. A moment of prayerful silence
Here I pause a while and gather in my heart the words I have read and heard. I try to do what Mary did, who listened to the words of the Lord and examined them, weighed them and allowed them to speak for themselves without interpreting, changing, diminishing or adding anything to them. In silence I pause on this text and go over it in my heart.
4. Some questions
a) “They went out and got into the boat” (v. 3). Am I also ready to embark on this journey of conversion? Will I let myself be reawakened by Jesus’ invitation? Or do I prefer to go on hiding behind my closed doors for fear like the disciples in the cenacle? Do I want to go out, to go out after Jesus, to allow him to lead me? There is a boat ready for me, there is a vocation of love given to me by the Lord; when will I make up my mind to truly respond?
b) “…But caught nothing that night” (ibid). Do I have the courage to hear the Lord say to me that there is emptiness in me, that it is night, that I am empty handed? Do I have the courage to admit that I need him, his presence? Do I want to open my heart to him, my innermost self, that which I constantly try to deny, to hide? He knows everything, he knows my innermost self; he sees that I have nothing to eat, but it is I who have to realize this about myself, that must eventually come to him empty handed, even weeping, with a heart full of sadness and anguish. If I do not take this step, the true light, the dawn of my day will never shine.
c) “Throw the net out to starboard” (v. 6). The Lord speaks clearly to me too in moments when, thanks to a person or a prayer gathering or a Word spoken, I understand clearly what I have to do. The command is very clear; I only need to listen and obey. “Throw out to starboard”, the Lord says to me. Do I at last have the courage to trust him, or do I wish to go on my own way, in my own way? Do I wish to cast my net for him?
d) “Simon Peter … jumped into the water” (v. 7). I am not sure that there is a more beautiful verse than this. Peter jumped in, like the widow at the temple who cast all she had, like the man possessed who was healed (Mk 5: 6), like Jairus, like the woman with the haemorrhage, like the leper, all of whom threw themselves at Jesus’ feet, surrendering their lives to him. Or like Jesus himself who threw himself on the ground and prayed to his Father (Mk 14: 35). Now is my time. Do I also want to throw myself into the sea of mercy, of the Father’s love, do I wish to surrender to him my whole life, my whole being, my sufferings, my hopes, my wishes, my sins, my desire to start again? His arms are ready to welcome me, rather, I am certain that it will be he who will throw his arms around my neck, as it is written … “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him”.
e) “Bring some of the fish you have just caught” (v. 10). The Lord asks me to join my food with his, my life with his. While the Evangelist is speaking of fish, it is as if he were speaking of people, those whom the Lord himself wishes to save through my efforts at fishing. That is why he sends me. At his table, at his feast, he expects me and expects all those brothers and sisters whom in his love he has placed in my life. I cannot go to Jesus alone. This Word, then, asks whether I am prepared to go to the Lord, to sit at his table, to celebrate Eucharist with him and whether I am ready to spend my life and my energies to bring to him with me many of my brothers and sisters. I must look within my heart sincerely and see my resistance, my closure to him and to others.
f) “Do you love me?” (v. 15). How can I answer this question? How can I proclaim my love for God when all my infidelities and my denials come to the surface? What happened to Peter is also part of my story. But I do not want this fear to prevent me and make me retreat; no! I want to go to Jesus, I want to stay with him, I want to approach him and say that I love him. I borrow Peter’s words and make them mine, I write them on my heart, I repeat them, I give them breath and life in my life and then I gather courage and say to Jesus: “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you”. Just as I am, I love him. Thank you, Lord, that you ask me to love and that you expect me, you want me; thank you because you rejoice in my poor love.
g) “Feed my sheep… Follow me” (vv. 15. 19). That is how the text ends. It is an open-ended ending and still goes on speaking to me. This is the Word that the Lord entrusts to me so that I may put it into practice in my life from this day on. I want to accept the mission that the Lord entrusts to me; I want to answer his call and to follow him wherever he may lead me, every day and in every small matter.
5. A key to the reading
Peter is the first to take the initiative and proclaim to his brothers his decision to go fishing. Peter goes out to the sea, that is, the world, he goes to his brothers and sisters because he knows that he is a fisher of people (Lk 5, 10); just like Jesus, who went out of the Father to come and pitch his tent in our midst. Peter is also the first to react to the words of John who recognizes Jesus on the shore. He ties his garment and throws himself into the sea. These seem to me to be strong allusions to baptism. It is as if Peter wishes to bury completely his past in those waters, just like a catechumen who enters the baptismal font. Peter commits himself to these purifying waters, he allows himself to be healed: he throws himself into the waters, taking with him his self conceits, his faults, the weight of his denial, his tears, so as to rise again a new man to meet his Lord. Before he throws himself, Peter ties his garment, just like Jesus did, before him, when he tied a garment to wash the feet of his disciples at the last supper. It is the garment of a servant, of one who gives him/herself to his/her brothers and sisters, and it is this garment that covers his nakedness. It is the garment of the Lord himself, who wraps him in his love and his forgiveness. Thanks to this love, Peter will be able to come up again from the sea and start all over again. It is also said of Jesus that he came up out of the water after his baptism; Master and disciple share the same verb, the same experience. Peter is now a new man! That is why he will be able to affirm three times that he loves the Lord. Even though his triple denial remains an open wound, it is not his last word. It is here that Peter experiences the forgiveness of the Lord and realizes the weakness that reveals itself to him as the place of a greater love. Peter receives love, a love that goes well beyond his treachery, his fall, a surfeit of love that enables him to serve his brothers and sisters, to lead them to the green pastures of the Lord Jesus. Not only this, but in this service of love, Peter will become the good Shepherd, like Jesus himself. Indeed, he too will give his life for his sheep, he will stretch his arms in crucifixion, as we know from history. He was crucified head down, he will be turned upside down, but in the mystery of love he will thus be truly straightened up and fulfil that baptism that began at the moment he threw himself into the sea with a garment tied around him. Peter then becomes the lamb who follows the Shepherd to martyrdom.
6. A time of prayer
Psalm 22
My soul thirsts for you, Lord.
Yahweh is my shepherd,
I lack nothing.
In grassy meadows he lets me lie.
By tranquil streams he leads me
to restore my spirit.
He guides me in paths of saving justice as befits his name.
Even were I to walk in a ravine as dark as death
I should fear no danger,
for you are at my side.
Your staff and your crook are there to soothe me.
You prepare a table for me under the eyes of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup brims over.
Kindness and faithful love pursue me every day of my life.
I make my home in the house of Yahweh for all time to come.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practice the Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen
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