Martin Jumbam
The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, April 10, 2016, as the third Sunday of Easter – Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; O sing to the glory of his name. O render him glorious praise, alleluia.”
In the first reading, we see how the early exciting years of the Church’s expansion started meeting setbacks. Like Jesus, the apostles are attacked by the leaders of the Jews and threatened with death. The Sanhedrin warn them not to preach in the name of Jesus but Peter, as leader of the apostles, replies that obedience to God comes before obedience to man. In the Second Reading from the Apocalypse, Saint John highly praises the risen Lord who, as the Lamb slain in sacrifice, is the sole mediator between God’s throne and all angels and the whole people of God, who pay him unending honour. In the Gospel of John, Christ continues to appear to his disciples after his resurrection to strengthen their faith and prepare them for his mission to the four corners of the earth. By the Sea of Tiberias, he guides them to bring in the catch of fish – symbolizing the Church gathering into her unity men and women of all ages and races – and then confirms Peter’s position as the head of the apostles. Peter, who denied his Master three times during his passion, is given the opportunity to reaffirm his love for his Master three times before being given the commission to guard the whole flock in Christ’s name.
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 5:27-32, 40-41.
The high priest demanded an explanation of the apostles. ‘We gave you a formal warning,’ he said, ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’ They warned the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus and released. Them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.
V/ The word of the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.
Comment
The enthusiasm of the early years of the Church’s expansion is not without obstacles. The apostles, like their Master Jesus Christ, are being attacked by the leaders of the Jewish people and threatened with death. The Sanhedrin warn the apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus because their movement has been attracting too many people.
The apostles refuse to obey not out of pride but because the elders of Israel are imposing a ruling that would have them go against God’s law. That is why they remind their judges that obedience to God comes first. The apostle’s behaviour shows how deeply committed they are to their preaching in the name of Christ. They are ready to serve the Lord without counting the cost.
It is Peter who is playing the role of leader and who accuses the Sanhedrin of going against the law of the God of their own fathers by condemning their true leader and Saviour Jesus Christ as well as the witnesses who had received the Holy Spirit to call them to conversion. God sends his Holy Spirit to those who obey him. The Apostles receive guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Even though they are flogged and humiliated, the Apostles rejoice as they remember their Master’s words: ‘Happy are you when people hate you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven’ (Mt 5: 11-12).
As Christians, we must pray to the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith so that we too may stand firm in the defence of our faith whenever it is threatened. We should learn to conform our behaviour to God’s commandments. As Christians, we should obey the law as good citizens of our land; however, we must take a strong stand against any unjust laws that are enacted or passed in parliament because not all that is legal is morally lawful or just.
Respect due to civil authority – which is what the Gospel teaches -- should not prevent Christians and people of good will from opposing legislators and rulers when they govern or pass laws that go contrary to God’s law. Any law that endangers human life in any form, for example, laws promoting abortion or euthanasia, must be rejected outright. Christians must be willing to suffer humiliation in defence of the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. No Christian can afford to be passive towards any law that runs counter to Christian values.
Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to give us the courage to stand for what is right and just in society, even if others think otherwise. Come, Holy Spirit, and bless and strengthen our faith that we may always defend just causes in society. We make our supplication through Christ our Lord. Amen. Alleluia.
Second Reading: Apocalypse 5: 11-14.
In my vision, I, John, heard the sound of an immense number of angels gathered round the throne and the animals and the elders; there were ten thousand times ten thousand of them and the thousands upon thousands, shouting, ‘The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing.’ Then I heard all the living things in creation – everything that lives in the air, and on the ground, and under the ground, and in the sea, crying, ‘To the One who is sitting on the throne and to the Lamb, be all praise, honour, glory and power, for ever and ever.’ And the four animals said, ‘Amen’; and the elders prostrated themselves to worship.
V/ The word of the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.
Comment
As mentioned last Sunday, the Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation, is the last book of Sacred Scripture and is the only prophetical book in the New Testament. The Church makes frequent use of it, particularly in the Liturgy, to sing the praises of the risen Lord and the splendor of the heavenly Jerusalem, which symbolizes the Church in the glory of heaven.
John begins his vision at the door of heaven. He is invited to come up and see what is to come. God is then seen sitting on the throne a sealed scroll in his hand. It contains God’s mysterious plans for the salvation of mankind. No one on earth can disclose them. It is only the risen Lord who can take the scroll from God and make its contents known to man. On this account, he is praised by all living creatures, by the elders and by the whole hosts of angels.
The host of angels around the throne act as a kind of guard of honour proclaiming the sublime perfection of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus. Today’s reading praises the risen Christ, who has now taken his rightful place at the right hand of God the Father. As the Lamb slain in sacrifice he is the sole mediator between God’s throne, the angels, all creation (symbolized by the four animals) and the whole people of God who pay him unending honour.
The seer mentions the role of the angels in heaven, particularly the worship and praise they offer God before his throne. They carry out God’s plans and intercede with God on behalf of mankind. The Church as always encouraged special devotion to the angels. Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church tell us about the existence of angels and about their mission to guide and protect us. For example, in Exodus 23:20 we read, “Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and harken to his voice.”
The Catechism of Saint Pius V states, among other things, that “by God’s providence, angels have been entrusted with the office of guarding the human race and of accompanying every human being […] (God) not only deputes angels on particular and private occasions, but also appoints them to take care of us from our very births. He furthermore appoints them to watch over the salvation of every member of the human race” (IV,9). We each have a guardian angel who guards and protects us throughout our lives. We should therefore have confidence in him and he will render us numerous services in the ordinary things of life. Amen. Alleluia.
Gospel: John 21:1-19.
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. 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. It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No,’ he said, ‘Throw the net out to the starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words, ‘It is the Lord,’ Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land. As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. 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. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead. After the meal 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.’ 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.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’ ‘I tell you most solemnly, 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.’ In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.’
V/ The Gospel of the Lord.
R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Comment
Chapter 21, from where our Gospel reading is taken, concludes Saint John’s Gospel. It is thought to have been an addition the beloved Apostle made later to emphasize such important events as the triple confession of Saint Peter, Christ’s confirmation of Peter’s primacy as the head of his Church and our Lord’s prophecy about Peter’s death. These verses sum up Saint John’s whole purpose in writing his Gospel, that is, to have men believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ announced by the prophets in the Old Testament, the Son of God, so that by believing this saving truth, which is the core of the Revelation, they might already begin to partake of eternal life.
In this reading, we find the Apostles together by the Sea of Tiberias, an indication that they have followed their Master’s wish for them to go to Galilee and wait for him there (Mt. 28:10). As they wait for him to come and give them new instructions for their mission, they decide to go back to their old profession: fishing. It is Peter who takes the lead, which is already an indication of his authority.
The Apostles are waiting, quite unsure of what is going to happen to them. They therefore seek comfort in the job they know so well. They are trying to cope with the death of their Master the best way they can. After a whole night at sea, they come up with nothing. As they come back to land, their Master is waiting for them although they do not immediately recognize him.
Once they do recognize him, he performs another miraculous catch of fish reminiscent to one earlier as recounted by Saint Luke (Lk 5: 1-11). On that occasion, our Lord had promised to make Peter a fisher of men. Today, he confirms Peter in his mission as the visible head of his Church.
Christ goes out in search of his own, he does not wait for them to come to him. He comes to encourage them and to give them instructions about the mission he has for them: that of taking his word to the ends of the world (Mk 16: 15-18). When he finds them, he serves them breakfast, thus fulfilling his saying that he came to serve, not to be served (Mt 20:28).
After the meal, Jesus proceeds to fulfill the promise he had earlier made to Peter when he told him: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16: 18). But there is a problem. Peter to whom the Lord made this promise had denied his Master three times during our Lord’s passion.
The Lord then proceeds to ‘cross examine’ Peter. Three times he asks Peter to reaffirm his love for him. Saint Jose Escriva de Ballaguer puts it beautifully: “Jesus questions Peter three times as if to give him a triple chance to atone for his triple denial. Peter has learned his lesson from the bitter experience of his wretchedness. Aware of his weakness, he is deeply convinced that rash claims are pointless. Instead he puts everything in Christ’s hands. ‘Lord, you know well that I love you’” (Friends of God, 267).
After confessing his love for our Lord three times, Peter receives the commission to care for Christ’s flock, to feed his lambs, to carefully shepherd his flock. And that is precisely what Peter does, as we heard in the first reading of this day’s Mass. He leads the other Apostles in their preaching ministry which makes the Jewish authorities nervous as they watch more and more people flock to them to hear the word of salvation and to be healed of their physical and spiritual infirmities.
What lesson do we take home from this reading. First of all, Christ is always coming in search of us, especially those of us whose faith, for one reason or another, is losing steam. He is asking you and me to cast our net of faith in him and he will fill it up with all we need as he did the net of his Apostles. Secondly, we should pray for our Holy Father the Pope. The primacy Christ conferred on Peter has been passed onto Peter’s successors to this day, from Saint Peter to Pope Francis, who is Peter’s 265th successor. Each of Peter’s successors receives the same mission to shepherd the whole Church and serve as Christ’s Vicars on earth. He is the Servus servorum Dei (the Servant of the Servants of God). Hence the urgent need for us, Christians, to always love and pray for our Holy Father, the Pope, that Christ should strengthen him for his mission to feed his lambs and shepherd his flock. Let us pray: “Lord, guide Pope Francis in the way of Jesus. May the Gospel inspire him and may truth be his guiding force. Give him wisdom, zeal and the gift of governance as he leads the Church on the journey to the Kingdom. Amen. Alleluia.”
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