3rd Sunday of Easter
We have come to the third Sunday of Easter and much has happened since Easter Sunday. The readings of the Easter Season continue to unfold for us the great Easter Mystery – the enduring presence of Jesus among us and what ‘new life in Christ’ might mean. In Jesus resurrection we celebrate the son of God who affirms that he walks with us and suffered died and rose again for us. Jesus resurrection assures us that life can come out of death and good overcomes evil.
It doesn’t always seem that way these days when we see the suffering people around the world with war and conflict in so many countries but for people who have faith in God nothing is impossible. After the earth shattering events of Good Friday and the empty tomb on Easter Sunday Peter and the others were ready to put the events of those days behind them and return home to do what they did before they came across Jesus and his message. But Jesus won’t let them go. The apostles courageously proclaim the Good News despite persecution, and Peter recognizes Jesus after a miraculous catch of fish. In our Gospel for this Sunday Jesus comes to the shore looking for the apostles. He gets their attention, as he did when he first called them, with a large catch of fish. He prepares breakfast for them and invites them to eat, “Come, and have breakfast.” After the meal Jesus asks Peter three times about the reality of his love. Insisting on love is something of a mark with Jesus. Three times Peter affirms his love, as three times Jesus insists on it.
When Peter professes his love Jesus commissions him to care for his flock when he says feed my sheep. In his ministry of teaching, preaching and healing Peter gets through to many people, and the authorities become nervous at the ability of Peter and the apostles to work in the name of Jesus In spite of the opposition Peter will continue insisting on his love for Jesus and this insistence will take him to martyrdom in Rome. No matter whether the believer is new or old, a pew sitter or a leader of people, the call of Christ is the same: “Follow me.” Following Christ means we lead a life lived in the community of faith where we are. Are we, like Peter, spreading the net for new believers and professing a true love for our Savior? Or are we on the sidelines watching others doing the work when we should really be out there doing the work with them? This Gospel reading is so appropriate for this weekend as we pray for the Cardinals who will meet in conclave next week to elect the new pope who is the successor of Peter who was to shepherd the flock of Christ.
As we continue our Easter journey we remember that the God of Hope, Love and Mercy is with us and wants us to abide in him throughout our lives. There will always be things going on in the world that we have no real control over so let us go forward in faith hope and love as Easter people as we pray in anticipation of the election of new pope the successor of Peter who was called and commissioned by Christ to shepherd the church.
Fullerton T 