Third Sunday of Easter
05 May 2019
| Second reading Revelation 5:11-14 |
|---|
I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Gospel John 21:1-19
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his followers. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was 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?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the 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. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Reflection
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his followers. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was 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?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the 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. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Reflection
By Pietro S. Albano
“It is the Lord!”, cried St John the Beloved, when he recognized it was Jesus who was waiting for them and giving them instructions where they could catch fish. That recognition was enough for St Peter to put his clothes on, jumped into the sea, and meet Christ. That encounter brought together the Master and His disciples for a meal. Having been nourished by the breakfast Jesus prepared Himself, what came next was a surprise for St Peter when he was asked not once, but thrice, if he loved the Lord. Having given the affirmative, he was called to missionary discipleship. Hence, looking back at the First Reading, we see not a cowering fisherman, but a courageous fisher of people.
Over these past few weeks, we read news of how Christians were persecuted. The bombings in Sri Lanka come to mind. The vandalization of churches here and there are another. At home, we see how the country's president called God 'stupid' to the glee of his followers. One could say it is not that easy to become a Christian nowadays. It is never easy! Regardless, let us remain faithful to Jesus.
“It is the Lord!”. Through our steadfast faith in the Risen Lord, may those around us - active or lapsed Christians, Christians or non-Christians, believers or non-believers - come to know Him. If that happens, then the experience of the disciples in today's Gospel would become real in our present times.
“It is the Lord!”, cried St John the Beloved, when he recognized it was Jesus who was waiting for them and giving them instructions where they could catch fish. That recognition was enough for St Peter to put his clothes on, jumped into the sea, and meet Christ. That encounter brought together the Master and His disciples for a meal. Having been nourished by the breakfast Jesus prepared Himself, what came next was a surprise for St Peter when he was asked not once, but thrice, if he loved the Lord. Having given the affirmative, he was called to missionary discipleship. Hence, looking back at the First Reading, we see not a cowering fisherman, but a courageous fisher of people.
Over these past few weeks, we read news of how Christians were persecuted. The bombings in Sri Lanka come to mind. The vandalization of churches here and there are another. At home, we see how the country's president called God 'stupid' to the glee of his followers. One could say it is not that easy to become a Christian nowadays. It is never easy! Regardless, let us remain faithful to Jesus.
“It is the Lord!”. Through our steadfast faith in the Risen Lord, may those around us - active or lapsed Christians, Christians or non-Christians, believers or non-believers - come to know Him. If that happens, then the experience of the disciples in today's Gospel would become real in our present times.
Prayer
Most loving and faithful Jesus, You were recognized by Your disciples in the sea. Help us too to recognize You in those moments when have not caught any fish in the sea of life. May our actions and words point our sisters and brothers to You, our Savior. Amen.
O Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us.
O Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us.
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