Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Here are the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter, April 18, 2010.
- Imagine yourself in that boat, after a long night without catching anything. How do you feel and react during your interaction with Jesus?
- Why did Jesus have Peter declare his love for him three times? Do you think it was rubbing salt in the wounds of Peter's denial, a way to heal those wounds, or something else?
- By his words and actions on the beach, what does Jesus teach us about ministering to others?
Those of you who have recently begun meeting as candidates in the Catechumenate sessions, we gather on Sunday April 18, starting at the 11:30 am mass.
Imagine yourself in that boat, after a long night without catching anything. How do you feel and react during your interaction with Jesus?
ReplyDeleteThey didn’t know it was the Christ so I would imagine I would be like “Who is that? Dude we been out here all night and didn’t catch anything.” But the appolosial of course didn’t have my cynicism. According to the text they did as the stranger suggested. Only after the catch did they recognize Jesus. I think even when we don’t understand or doubt we need to do what Christ says as Mary commanded at the wedding in John 2:5, “Whatever He says to you, do it."
Why did Jesus have Peter declare his love for him three times? Do you think it was rubbing salt in the wounds of Peter's denial, a way to heal those wounds, or something else?
Jesus had already appeared to Peter two other times prior to this encounter. Yes Peter was probably feeling a lot of guilt for his denial of Christ. But Jesus is God and he knows all. Christ already told him he would deny him. In light of Luke 22:31-32"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." I think it speaks more to the commissioning of Peter as the leader of the apostles and the church. The declaration was to strengthen Peter’s faith, three times over. All of the apostles leave Jesus after his arrest, but only Peter get’s this special strengthen of faith. 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.
By his words and actions on the beach, what does Jesus teach us about ministering to others?
I don’t know but here are my thoughts. Jesus shares what little he had, the fish and bread that was already on the grill, with some pretty hungry fishermen. That’s love. Like the apostles all night fishing trip that was non productive, in live we are all looking for something. St. Augustine said it best, “Thou hast made us for thyself O’ Lord and our hearts are restless until they restless until they rest in Thee.” We are all looking for Christ.
It wasn’t until they listened to Christ that their efforts became fruitful. As fishermen of souls I think we need to always listen to and do what Christ commands. That will minister to others more then the words we speak ever could.