Year C

3RD SUNDAY
OF EASTER

► Readings, Reflections & Prayers

Scripture readings: Association for Catholic Priests
– www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie
Reflections and Prayers by Fr Jack Finnegan SDB

1st Reading – Acts 5:27-32, 40-41

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

Reflection

Ordered not to, the apostles had been arrested for proclaiming Jesus. Brought before the Sanhedrin they made their position crystal clear: We obey God not powerful people! In taking that stand they understood the risks. But there is more to the story than meets the eye. We are confronted by the Jewish principle of double witness: We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. We, just as they, witness to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. And witness can still be a risky affair: hundreds of Christians are killed today simply for being Christian! What we need to remember is that our witness to Jesus is given life and power by the grace of the Spirit. Without the Spirit our words and actions, our lives, become dull clichés empty of life-giving power. Are we ready to witness to Jesus by word and deed in the power of the Spirit? Are we ready to give an account of our faith?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, glorious Risen One, the apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing, glad to suffer dishonour for the sake of your name. Give us the strength to stand for you and for what you embody for all of creation. Give us the courage to be true. May we be thrilled to acclaim you, delighted to praise your name with our manner of living, and overjoyed to offer compassion and respect to all in your name! Amen. Alleluia!

Psalm 30: 2, 4-6, 11-13

Reflection

A song of the change brought about by God, our psalm offers a glimpse of the dawning of joy that hints at the transforming reality of resurrection life. We are saved, rescued, lifted up, transformed: and our response is a glorious song of praise! Our mourning is changed into dancing and our darkness into light. In the power of the Risen One we are saved from scornful people and from the evils of the day. We are lifted up, given new strength to face the spiritual, social and other challenges of the times we live in. God’s gift of salvation works wonders. Are we ready to live as God’s people? Are we ready to dedicate ourselves to God’s ways and open our hearts to the changes God brings about in our lives?

Prayer

I will praise you LORD, Adonai, I will acclaim your wisdom and your love. May I discover how to give you thanks and rejoice in your great compassion forever! You are my rescuer! You are my deliverer! You are the lifter of my head! You are my healer, the joy of my life! May the light of your wisdom shine in my mind and heart! Each day may I learn anew how to let you change my mourning into dancing, my grief into joy! Amen. Alleluia!

2nd Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

Then 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 honor 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 honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Reflection

John shares with us his vision of the heavenly liturgy. The reading is full of the sounds and chants of living worship and praise pouring from the lips of countless people and angels. Can you imagine the glory of it and the splendour? Can you join in the chorus of endless glory and honour and praise? Can you picture the ceaseless outpouring of blessings as you join the four living creatures as they shout their magnificent Amen? From as early as the second century with St Irenaeus of Lyon (120-202) the four living creatures, in the shape of the lion (Mark), the eagle (John), the ox (Luke) and a man (Matthew), have been traditionally associated with the four evangelists. The lesson is clear: worship of God celebrates the perfect harmony that exists between God and creation and the unity of all things in Christ the Lamb. Can we be part of that harmony? Can we give voice to that unity? Can we see all of reality in its radiant light?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in the magnificent unity of deep prayer and worship John heard the whole cosmos cry out, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wealth, wisdom and might, honour and glory and blessing.” Blend our voices with the elders and evangelists, the four living creatures, as we lift our hands in worship and praise! Let us join their eternal hymn of praise! Let us acclaim your glory every day for you truly are worthy! With everything in the universe let us, too, cry out, “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour, glory and might, forever and ever.” Lamb once slain, Saviour of the universe, may you be glorified forever and ever! Amen. Alleluia!

Gospel Reading: John 21:1-19

After these things 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 disciples. 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

Today’s gospel is set in the context of a miracle and a breakfast cooked by Jesus for Peter and his friends following an unsuccessful night’s fishing. Why did they return to fishing? Did they need to earn some money or was there something else at work? But then Jesus appears and their nets are soon full! Scholars suggest that this story probably revisits the first resurrection appearance of Jesus to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee and link it to the story of the miraculous catch of fishes in Luke 5. The number 153 obviously has symbolic significance but it is not explained in the gospel. For example, it has been suggested that 153 stands for abundance, the fullness of grace, or the completeness of the catch Peter and the apostles will make when they take the gospel into the world. What is important to the story is the movement towards amazed recognition on the part of Peter and his friends. Have you noticed that in the gospels they only catch fish where Jesus tells them! Sit with the dialogue between Jesus and Peter. Then call to mind Gregory the Great’s comment: if people who are able refuse to feed the flock, they show that they do not love the Shepherd. Do we recognise Jesus in the ups and downs of our own lives? Do we notice when he helps us catch fish? Do we seek spiritual wisdom and spiritual guidance? Are we ready to meditate on the personal significance of the love dialogue between Jesus and Peter and the prophecy of Peter’s martyrdom? On the way, Peter moved beyond self-reliance to reliance on God. He embraced liberating truth. Where do we stand?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, how wonderful your living encounter with Peter and his friends! How amazing and lovely your Risen humanity! The Saviour helping them catch fish, cooking breakfast for his tired, perplexed and disappointed friends! What a glorious moment of care and hospitality! What a stunning moment of recognition and concerned love! Then you asked Peter if he loved you, three times you asked him. And then you asked him to do for others what you had done for him. Help us learn to recognise you in surprising places and events. Show us where the fish are. Help us live lives of love and service, of compassion and aid. Teach us how to embrace your Spirit in our time! Help us work with you for a better world. Now and forever. Amen. Alleluia!

► Lectio Divina

Introduction to Lectio Divina

The disciples returned to Galilee after their meeting with Jesus in Jerusalem, when the Risen Lord had to make himself seen and allow himself to be touched before they believed in him.  Jesus had to return to Galilee and appear to them as the Risen Jesus, sharing his everyday life with them in order to convince them of the reality of his new life. This was necessary to enable them later to carry out their mission as his witnesses, with greater conviction and better arguments.

This apparently simple account arises from the two basic preoccupations of the author: first, to prove the truth of the resurrection of Jesus; and second, to put on record Peter’s office of service to the community. The detailed account of the miraculous catch of fish and the invitation of Jesus to the disciples to share a meal with him serves the first purpose. Peter’s role in the episode is evident. He may not have been the perfect disciple, but he was the one chosen to confirm the faith of the others. This is why his love for Jesus had to undergo public scrutiny. His repeated affirmation of love was necessary for him to be confirmed in his principal mission. It was not the disciple who was most loved, but the one who was most loving, who was given the responsibility of leading and caring for his brothers.

The mystery of the Church is founded upon weak men, who know that they have shared the life of the Lord whom they now preach, and who cannot doubt the love they have for him. Loving Christ imposes the obligation to transmit the faith among the brothers as a life-task. If it is a question of being accepted, it is not necessary to be perfect to become pastors of the community. We should not forget that ministry is obligatory for anyone who truly loves Christ.

Read: understand what the text is saying, focussing on how it says it

John 21 is actually an appendix to the gospel which has already ended (Jn 20, 30-31), a kind of epilogue. The story of Jesus ends at Jn 20, 31, but not the story of his disciples. Their story continues in John 21, with the return of the Risen Lord and new charges entrusted to them.  It seems that a later editor added this chapter to ensure the preservation of traditional material known in the Jewish community about the fate of the beloved disciple. This chapter shows clearly the interest of the community of believers in the appointment of Peter as leader. Our gospel passage includes almost the whole of Chapter 21. It is divided into two parts. The first part (Jn 21, 1-14), reports the three apparitions of Jesus that took place in Galilee. He appeared first to seven disciples (Jn 21, 2), who, after an unproductive night’s fishing, had an abundant catch, and then shared a meal with Jesus (Jn 21, 12). The second part (21, 15-23) consists almost exclusively of the words of Jesus, renewing the task entrusted to Peter and giving him responsibility for the needs of the community. Despite the undeniable difference in content and style, the two scenes reflect a close unity.                                          Jesus (Jn.21, 14.5.7.9.12.13.14.15.16.17) and Peter dominate the entire account (21, 2.3.7.11.15.16.17.). Jesus is the main character and Peter his privileged partner, first in the miraculous catch of fish, and then in his destiny as shepherd of the flock of Jesus.

Jesus’ third apparition takes place, without prior notice, near the sea of Tiberias (cf Jn 6, 1). It seems that the disciples had returned to their former occupation. In the midst of this, during a hard day’s work, they experience the Risen Lord. The sea is their place of work. It is also the place of their meeting with Jesus. Night is the best time for fishing because of the darkness, but, in the absence of Jesus, the disciples had no success in the very thing they were good at, which was fishing!

After a night’s work, Jesus meets them at dawn (Jn 21, 4) but they do not recognise him. He speaks to them, as he did to Mary (Jn 20.10), and the disciples on the road to Emmaus, asking them in a familiar tone for some food (Jn 21, 5). He does not greet them, nor offer peace. Rather, he presents himself in need of their help.  He asks them if they have anything to go with the bread (Lk 24, 43).

His request leads the disciples to recognise their poverty and the failure of their night’s fishing. They have nothing they can give him to eat. Jesus tells them to go back to work immediately, promising good results (Jn 21, 6). Obedience to the stranger leads to results beyond their highest expectations – the net is filled with fish. It is all due to the word of the stranger. In the apparition accounts, as in normal life, Jesus is not recognised unless he makes himself known (Jn 20.15; Lk 24, 16). Here the account is typical of the fourth evangelist: the beloved disciple recognises the Lord and tells Peter (Jn. 20, 7 cf.20, 8). Peter’s spontaneous and generous reaction serves to underline the leading role he plays throughout the scene. He is the one who decides to go fishing and the others join him (Jn 21, 3). He jumps into the water when he sees the Lord (Jn. 21, 7), while the other disciples bring the boat ashore (Jn.21, 8). Peter acts like the owner of the boat. He hauls the net ashore, and takes a large part of the catch. The number of fish, as the evangelist records with precision, was 153 large fish, but still the net was not broken (Jn 21, 11).

The disciples met the Lord and found a meal already prepared, grilled fish and bread (Jn 21, 9), typical food of the fishermen of Galilee. We are not told what they were thinking as they ate. They did not recognise the Risen Lord while they were at work, but they all recognised him during the meal as they ate with him (cf Lk 24, 35). They accepted his invitation (Jn 21, 12) but none of the disciples dared to ask him who he was. They knew very well that it was the Lord. (Jn 23, 13; cf 6, 11; Lk 24,30. 42.43).

When the meal was over, Jesus conferred on Peter the leadership of the community. The other disciples, apart from the one loved by Jesus, disappear from the account. The primacy of Peter is a theme recognised in the gospel tradition (Mt. 16, 17-19). It is significant that the fourth gospel which begins, in the first chapter, with the change of name to Peter (Jn1, 42) concludes with the conferral of his new mission (Jn. 21, 15. 16,17).

There are two parts to the episode – the imposition of his pastoral duty (Jn 21,15-17) and the foretelling of his witnessing by his blood (Jn 21,18-23). Jesus begins by examining Peter’s love and then imposes a mission which is given only to Peter (Jn.10, 1-21). The conversation is brief and reduced to the essentials. It follows a fixed scheme: three times the same question is asked, three times it evokes the same reaction and each time the same task is imposed. Jesus’ question (Jn 21, 15.16.17) is followed by an affirmative response from Peter (Jn 21, 15.16.17), which in turn leads to the conferring of the task to be done (Jn 21, 15.16.17). The triple questioning by Jesus saddens Peter so much (Jn 21, 17) that he has recourse to Jesus’ omniscience to convince him of his love. Jesus had begun the conversation asking for a greater love. It does not seem however, in spite of what we may think, that Jesus was testing the fidelity of the only disciple who had denied him three times (Jn18, 15-28.15-27). Jesus rehabilitates him, not so much for the sake of sharing his life, but for the mission. Peter does not return to the company of Jesus. He is sent to his brothers (Lk 22, 32).

The scene does not focus on the recovery of personal fidelity by the disciple who had denied him, although that is included. The emphasis is on his investiture, the conferring of pastoral ministry on Peter. He will have to take care of Jesus’ flock, but only later, after he has declared his love for Jesus and his dedication to him.  It is true, however, that Peter was rehabilitated publicly by declaring publicly his love for Jesus, and his sadness at having to repeat it.

In the synoptics, Jesus is impressed by Peter’s faith (Mk 8, 27-29). In John, however, Jesus is convinced only by his profession of love. Pastoral ministry is, first and foremost, an exercise of love for Jesus. Loving Christ implies being made responsible for others. Jesus does not entrust the pastoral government of the community to one who promises a lot (Jn 13, 13, 36-37), nor to the one who was most loved and first to believe (Jn 21,7). He entrusted it three times to Peter who had to confirm his love three times. The flock follows the message of Jesus. Peter must be the one to guide and care for it. Ownership of the flock does not change. Pastoral responsibility for it lies on the one who must love. It is not by chance that Peter’s investiture as Shepherd is joined to the prediction of his martyrdom. The one who shares with Jesus the role of Shepherd (Jn 10, 11-18) must also share his destiny (Jn 15, 13).  Only in this way can he guarantee the truth of his appointment. Jesus’ mandate, which must be followed, imposes on Peter a sad end, and makes it inevitable, for he knows he must follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Following Jesus proved impossible for Peter when Jesus was alive (Jn.13, 36). Now it is imperative: follow me! Peter must remain in solidarity with Jesus, a solidarity that culminates in his pastoral mission.  It does not require that Peter give his life for others  (Jn 10,11.17-18) but that he give it for his Lord (Jn 13,37).

Meditate: apply what the text says to life

According to what the gospel tells us, the disciples were too busy with their work, busy with what they already knew, instead of being busy witnessing to Jesus and bringing his peace to the world. They were more concerned with earning their daily living and having food to eat, than with their obligation to preach the gospel. Like Peter, who brought the others out for their night’s fishing, there are many believers today who worry about work, and forget the mission entrusted to them by Jesus. We have just celebrated the resurrection in recent days. Like Peter, we know that Jesus is alive, but, instead of carrying out the mission Jesus entrusted to us, we are busy about many things that are less demanding and seem more useful. It is not that Peter did anything wrong by going fishing, nor do we do wrong when we seek to provide the necessities of life, but it is wrong to remain silent about Jesus when we know that he is truly alive. If we keep quiet about the Risen Lord, we allow others to go on believing that he is dead.

What Peter was doing was good, but he was not doing the will of the Risen Lord, and consequently all his work was in vain. That night they caught nothing, the gospel tells us. No job, no work, no effort can bear fruit, if it is not the consequence of the vocation which each one has received from God. Anyone who knows that Jesus is alive, even if most people think he is dead, or many are simply not interested, cannot keep quiet about his experience and go on with work that is not part of his principal mission. It is not enough to do no wrong. If we do not tell the world what we know, we will continue to live useless lives, working all night by the sweat of our brow, but neglecting to proclaim with our lives what we know about Jesus – that he is alive, and that we live to bear witness to the world that Christ is our life.

Jesus spoke to his disciples again and sent them out to fish, at a time that was not right for fishing. Jesus acted in a strange way. He did not get angry with his disciples for not doing what they should have been doing, but he sent them out to do something that was quite unusual. The disciples, who had ignored the command of the Risen Lord, needed to learn that it is obedience that makes their daily life fruitful. They were told to throw out their nets when it was time to gather them in, and yet their nets came back full of fish. It was contrary to all logic! With Jesus, the outcome was assured, even if they had to go against their own experience. Without him, all effort was in vain. The disciple who knew that Jesus loved him, was better able to see that the stranger was, in fact, the Lord, and so he was the first of the apostles to recognise him. Love is the best way to sense the presence of a friend in a stranger. The one who is most loved, finds it easiest to believe.

We should not worry about the difficulties we have in becoming convinced of the presence of God and his help. We are already believers, and yet we are incapable of believing that we are loved by God. We look for proof, because we are not sure of God, of his power and his love.  Unlike the beloved disciple, the one who was first to believe at the empty tomb, and the first to recognise the Lord after the miraculous catch, we are not sure of his love. We cannot believe that he truly loves us. We have had so many failures and disappointments, so many nights spent working alone, without seeing the results we were hoping for, that nothing can convince us that he is with us, trying to make himself known to us. If we obey him, and trust in his word, we will return to our activities with enthusiasm, knowing once more that he is with us.

We can, at least, react like Peter who was unable at first to recognise the Lord. On hearing the Lord’s voice, however, he threw himself half-naked into the sea, without any thought whatsoever of the risk he was taking. That sea, which the night before had yielded nothing, was the same sea he walked through to meet the Lord. His previous misfortune did not make him afraid. On hearing the Lord’s voice, he threw himself into the water.

How will we know today that the Lord is with us to help us, if we do not go fishing at night in the Sea of Galilee, as the disciples did? The gospel gives us the answer: they knew that it was the Lord when he invited them to eat with him. Receiving bread and fish from his hands convinced them that it was the Lord, and none of them dared to ask him who he was.

If they had not heard the stranger’s invitation to share bread with him and allowed him to calm their fears, they would not have recognised him. However, they knew that Jesus, their true Master, had often shown concern for them when they were hungry, and so they recognised his voice and the invitation to eat with him. If that is what we desire – to recognise him in our lives – we need to listen today to his invitation to share bread with him, and allow him to satisfy our needs. If we do not recognise him in our midst, we will pay no heed to his invitation to share his bread and his body. This is not merely by chance, indeed quite the opposite: it is difficult for us to believe, and all the more so if we do not receive him into our lives through the Eucharist. If we do not approach his table, how will we know that he is alive and that he cares for us? We will be like the disciples who, even though they knew he was alive, went off fishing, working in the dark, little knowing that the next day he would give them the assurance of his presence and the success of their efforts.

In spite of everything, the example of Peter should encourage us. He was not the one most loved by Jesus, but he longed with all his heart to love the Lord, even to the point of jumping into the sea. He knew well that Jesus loved the other disciple more, but he let Jesus ask him in public if he loved him more than the others. And because he took the risk of proclaiming repeatedly that he loved the Lord, he was the one chosen to lead the other disciples. Strangely, Jesus did not choose the one whom he loved most, and who was first to recognise him, but Peter, the disciple who had denied him three times, but also promised him three times that he loved him. Following Jesus is not about being better than others, nor about knowing that you are his best friend, but about being sure of your love for him and having the courage to proclaim it before the world. We can all promise him our love and, like Peter, we can all be chosen.