Third Sunday of Easter (C)

 Third Sunday of Easter Year C [Jn 21:1-19]

01.05.2022

The Risen Lord Appears to Seven Disciples

Readings: (1) Acts 5:27-32.40-41 (2) Rev 5:11-14 

1.Theme in brief:

Greater love generates faster faith and leads to greater responsibility

2. Focus Statement:

Those who love Jesus more intimately, recognise his hidden presence even in the dark moments of their lives, and are given the responsibility to feed not only the ‘sheep’ but also  the ‘lambs’ that might demand painful sacrifices from us.

3. Explanation of the text

There is a hint in today’s gospel that after witnessing the heartbreaking event of Jesus’ crucifixion, his disciples must have decided to give up their vocation to follow him and return to their previous profession of catching fish. Simon Peter took the lead to announce his desire to go fishing in the Sea of Tiberias and six other disciples agreed to join him (21: 1-3). When they failed to catch any fish in spite of whole night’s efforts (21:3), a ‘stranger'  appeared on the beach at daybreak (21:4) and advised them to cast their net to the right side of the boat (21:6). Though they did not know it was the Risen Lord (21:4), the familiarity of his voice and words such as addressing them as “children” (21:5) must have prompted them to accept his advice and try again. When they obeyed his instructions, they caught so many fish – actually one hundred fifty-three large ones – that they were unable to haul the net (21:6, 11).

Thus, today’s gospel text contrasts the utter failure of Simon Peter and his six companions to catch any fish “at night” (when the Lord was absent) with their marvellous success (when the Risen Lord was present with them as he appeared to them on the beach “at daybreak”, 21:4). Here, the evangelist once again applies his familiar or common theme of contrasting ‘darkness’ with ‘light’. In the ‘darkness’ of failure and frustration, the Risen Lord who is the LIGHT of the world (Jn 8:12) appeared to them at ‘daybreak’ – again, a symbol of light. At first all of them found it difficult to recognise the Risen Lord (21:4), but after seeing the miraculous catch of fish, it was the disciple whom Jesus loved who recognized him first (21:7).  This indicates that the one who loves Jesus the most recognises his presence and power first and fast when all the rest fail. It is clear that a disciple’s intimacy or closer communion with the Lord leads to deeper faith and faster recognition of his divine presence. They caught so much fish, not because they were lucky, but because they obeyed the ‘stranger’ whom later they later recognized as the Risen Lord (21:12). The message is clear: when the Lord is absent they could ‘catch’ nothing, but with his help, they could ‘catch’ people of all types (symbolized by153 types of fish caught by them, 21:11) into the ‘net’ of the Church.

The fourth evangelist mentions that the exact number of fish caught by the disciples was a hundred fifty-three (21:11), not because they sat down and counted them meticulously, but because of its symbolic meaning. St. Jerome mentions, according to popular belief in those days, there were153 different kinds of fishes in the sea. The text suggests that in Peter’s net there was a fish from each kind. This is a clear reference to the universality and inclusiveness of the Church. These fishermen who were called to “fish for people” (Mt 4:19) are now called to fish for all kinds of people, including repentant sinners and Gentiles. John writes that the net was not torn in spite of containing so many large fish (21:11) to indicate the necessity to maintain unity in the Church in spite of diversity of her members. Jesus’ invitation to his disciples to “come and have breakfast” (21:12) indicated his role as the Giver of Bread of Life that nourished their faith. Though this was not an Eucharistic meal, it had spiritual overtones because of the choice of two Eucharistic words: “Jesus took bread and gave it to them” (21:13). At this meal the disciples were re-commissioned and reminded that they should go back to their original call and mission – in symbolic terms, must get back to their “boats and nets” and try again to catch fish.

When they finished breakfast, Jesus seemed to have challenged Peter to a more mature and decisive commitment to him by asking whether he loved him more than ‘these’ (21:15). This dees not mean whether Simon loved him more than otyher disciples. What it means is whether Simon loves him more than anything and everybody else, that is, or more his job and possessions. He must have made him aware of the superficiality of his commitment when trials came, because he had denied him three times in spite of his assurance that even though everybody else deserted him he would not, and would be willing to lay down his life for Jesus (13:38). This is the reason why many scholars connect Jesus’ threefold question to Peter whether he loved him and his threefold profession of his genuine love for the Lord (21:15-17) to his threefold denial of Jesus (18:17, 25-27). The connecting link is made further clear by stating that both these incidents took place around a charcoal fire (compare Jn 18:18 with 21:9). Now Jesus seemed to have reinstated Peter into the fold of disciples and challenged him to prove his genuine love for his Master by assuming a greater responsibility – to feed his lambs first (21:15, a symbol for the tender, little,fragile and the vulnerable and then tend his sheep (21:16, 17, a symbol for the mature and the strong ones). Finally, he was invited to follow his Master to the point of laying down his life for his flock (21:18-19).

4. Application to life

Often we feel that we are toiling all night and are trying so hard to ‘catch fish’ but are catching nothing. The utter failure of the disciples of Jesus to achieve any result (fruit) in spite of the hard work at night, symbolizes the similar moments in our own lives when forces of darkness engulf us. We try so hard to come out of an addiction, resentment, unforgiving attitude, negativity, bitterness, bad habits or habitual sins but do not succeed. We have tried so many times to bring changes in our family relationships, in our children, in our communities, and solve our problems but without any visible result. It is during these moments of painful and humiliating failures, sometimes we hear an inner voice prompting us to try again, never to give up our efforts or good work. The same inner voice tells us never to abandon our life’s purpose, or never to allow our dream to die. We experience an inner force propelling us to hope against all hopes. Do we believe that it is the power of the Risen Christ or his creative Spirit that is available to those who recognize him in faith?

There are other circumstances when suddenly ‘night’ or ‘darkness’ descends on us: a tragic accident, a fatal illness, sudden death, a transfer to a difficult place, a false accusation, a court case, a big fight, etc. In spite of our best efforts, and ceaseless prayers, we see no improvement in our situation. No result, no fruit, no change, no job, no cure, no solution! It is during these or similar dark moments of our lives, our faith is severely tested. Sometimes we fail in this test by failing to recognize the hidden presence of the Living Lord. Though he is present, we fail or find it hard to recognise him, just like Peter and his companions at the Sea of Tiberias. If we downgrade our faith in the omnipresence of Christ due to his resurrection, we shall easily give up ‘fishing’ when we do not ‘catch’ anything and look for other lucrative and pleasurable jobs.

It is only when we firmly believe that the Living Lord does not abandon those who trust in him even in their emptiness and utter failures, we shall ‘catch’ plenty of ‘fish.’ Do we believe that without him we can do nothing (Jn 15:5) or catch nothing and with his strength we can do everything or gather more people into the ‘net’ or community based on his gospel-values? Together with St. Paul we can always cry out: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). Next to faith and trust comes the necessity of obedience to Jesus’ word. Just as Simon Peter and his companions obeyed the word of Jesus to cast their net once again and trusted in his promise that surely would get some fish, this text calls us also to trustful obedience in Jesus’ words and promises. How much do we obey the Lord as he speaks to us in his Word?

What could be the reason for our little or superficial faith? How is deeper faith in the Risen Lord generated? Though there could be several answers to these questions, today’s gospel tells us in clear terms that in order to recognize him we have to be like the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (21:7). He is commonly known as “the Beloved Disciple of the Lord,” What is more important for us is not so much to know who exactly this unnamed disciple was, but to understand that each one of us is called to become a beloved disciple of the Lord and recognize his hidden presence quickly even in our dark moments.  How? It is by our passionate love for the Lord. Only those who are passionately in love with him which is cultivated by an intimate friendship with him, and are constantly seeking after him, are the first ones to recognize the Risen Lord. In other words, the one who loves Jesus the most recognises him first.

The Risen Lord does not impose on us a forcible appearance or vision as the evil spirits or ghosts do (according to popular beliefs). People say these ghosts impose their mighty appearance on their victims. So, recognition of the Risen Lord depends on how closely or intimately we are related to him. It is clear that deeper intimacy with the Lord leads to deeper faith in him or in his presence. This kind of close friendship or communion with the Lord in prayer and reflection on his Word makes us attuned to his presence or makes our mind alert to the signs of his presence in good and bad, happy and sad events/ moments of our life. Then we ‘see’ and meet the Risen Lord in all the situations of our life and its tasks. This type of personal faith motivates us to ‘cast our nets’ again and again into the sea even though we are fed up and do not see any visible success.

The threefold question asked by Jesus to Peter whether he really loved him (21:15-17) is also asked to each one of us. First, Jesus asks us as he asked Peter whether we love him more than “these” (21:15), i.e. more than our jobs, possessions, career and comforts, or more than our family and friends, or more than anything and everybody else.  This question also implies whether we are willing now to let go of all our self-sufficiency and self-reliance and put our commitment only and totally in Jesus’ love for us. Jesus asks us whether we are going to remain faithful to him in all the ups and downs of life. Like Peter he asks us whether we are ready to follow him on the basis of faith alone and not anymore on the basis of our talents, capabilities and capacities or knowledge of Scripture. Like him, as disciples of Christ, and more specifically as Christian leaders in families, society, Christian institutions, religious communities and the Church (that is, in our shepherding role) we are asked not to rely fully and totally only on money, resources, projects, budgets, job, bank balance, life insurance, degrees, status or rank, abilities and talents, but on our personal and faithful love for the Risen Lord. In all our leadership roles (beginning from parenting up to carrying our responsibilities as chief executives) the main criterion is not how much we know or are qualified, but how much we love the Lord.

Today’s gospel establishes a close connection between loving Jesus more than anything or anybody else and tending/ feeding his lambs/ sheep. To those who love him, he entrusts the responsibility of taking care of his lambs first, then his sheep. So if we say we love him the most, we need to show it in action. we are called to show a special concern or to have a ‘soft corner’ for the ‘lambs’, namely, the lost, the lonely, the rejected, the deprived and the vulnerable without neglecting the care of the ‘sheep’, namely, the mature and the strong disciples. Though we have a responsibility to shepherd (lead, guide, protect, feed, nourish, care for) the whole flock, our preferential love goes towards the ‘lambs’ after the model of Christ himself. The Church is called to follow Jesus' example by doing works of mercy for the ‘lambs’ first and then the ‘sheep’. Just as Jesus indicated to Peter about his future death in Rome by “stretching out his hands” on the cross (21:18-19), our love for the Lord is further proved by our willingness to make sacrifices for his mission (of feeding his ‘lambs’ and ‘sheep’) by taking up the crosses that come on our way when we do this mission.

5.  Response to God's Word

Which is our ‘night’ in the present life-situation? Do we recognize that the Risen Lord is present even at night? If not, why? Is it because we are far away from him all these days? Do we recognise his hidden presence even in dark moments of our life? Are we worthy of being called his beloved disciples? How is our relationship with him? Intimate or distant? As teachers in educational institutions, do we have special concern for dull students; as parents for disobedient children; as leaders for the weaker section; as medical practitioners for those who cannot afford costly treatment…? Besides taking care of these (which is easier), do we have a special concern for the ‘lambs’ (which is tough)? Do we feel for these lambs? What sacrifices are needed to ‘feed’ (take care of) them?

6. A Prayer

Risen Lord, open the eyes of our faith that we may recognize you in our ordinary life and its tasks, especially when ‘night’ descends on us suddenly. In the dark moments of our lives, may we recognise you in faith and grow day by day in our vocation to become your beloved disciples by loving you passionately. Yes, Lord, we love you more than anything and everybody else.  Today we decide not to rely fully and totally only on money, resources, abilities and talents, but on our personal and faithful love for you. Grant that we may prove our love for you by remaining faithful to the responsibility of feeding the lambs and tending the sheep entrusted to our care by you. Amen.