THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C
First Reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
Second Reading: Revelation 5:11-14
Responsorial Psalm: 30:2, 4-6, 11-13
Gospel: John 21:1-19
The Gospel of this third Sunday of Easter presents us the final appearance of Jesus in the Gospel of John. It happened by the sea of Tiberias, also known as the sea of Galilee. There are two things I want to highlight in this passage. First is the Apostles fishing at night and not catching anything and then Jesus asking Simon three times, ‘do you love me?’
Seven Apostles went fishing all night and caught nothing. Night time is the best time to catch big fishes. They hide during the day because they sense a lot of activity in the surface. Secondly, water temperatures cools allowing them to move more freely to hunt for food. So, they are more active in the night. But night time here becomes a symbol of darkness. In his prologue, John told us that Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8: 12). The Apostles fishing all night in the darkness and catching nothing means to teach us that any venture undertaken without Jesus is an exercise is darkness and will end in futility. “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15: 5).
At dawn Jesus showed up although they did not recognize him and said to them, “cast the net on the right of the boat, and you shall find.” They were not able to draw the net because of the multitude of fish. Every fisherman will like to have this kind of experience that Jesus offered his Apostles. But it is much more than just a favor Jesus offered to help his friends. It was a sign.
Jesus was giving the Apostles a new calling. They would no longer be fishing just for fish but for humans.
The most important part is that if they try to do it by their initiative and effort, it will yield nothing. Just as their obedient response to the command of Jesus yielded more fruits than they could imagine, if they do it at the Lord’s command and at his directive, their effort will yield more than they can ever imagine. We see in this sign, the power of obedience.
This miracle also speaks to us. We are all of us called to be fishers of men in various degrees. How often do we want to do it our own way and without reference to Jesus? We cannot achieve anything by our own effort alone. We must humble ourselves and realize that it is only by the help of God and his directive that we can have success. Jesus said, apart from me, you can do nothing. But with Jesus, we can do all things like St. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We must always seek the help of God in obedience and in prayers.
There is another meaning of this miracle. The Fathers of the Church saw the boat as a symbol of the Church and its unity is symbolized by the net which in spite of holding 153 great fishes remains untorn. The 153 great fishes symbolize those who will be saved. Notice how Peter was able to drag the net to the land, a sign that there will be one flock and one shepherd, a symbol of his primacy and supreme authority in the Church. The sea is the symbol of the whole world so that the destination of their mission is the whole world. They are to bring all nations to the kingdom of God.
Jesus had promised Peter that he would be the primate of his Church. Jesus does not withdraw his grace or promise. Despite Peter’s triple denials during his passion, he confers on him the primacy he promised him. He questions him three times, ‘do you love me’ as if to give him the chance to atone for his triple denial. In asking Peter, do you love me, for the first two, Jesus used the verb “agapao” but Peter responded with the verb “phileo.” Peter has learned his lesson from the bitter experience of denying Jesus. Aware of his weakness, he is deeply convinced that rash claims are pointless. Instead, he puts everything at the Lord’s hands; “Lord, you know well that I love you.” Jesus’ final question uses phileo, while Peter continues to respond with the same verb. The point is that the stronger verb agapao used by Jesus is too much for Peter whose self-confidence has failed him. He cannot go beyond the weaker expression phileo, yet Jesus is ready to work with that. It is also a good lesson for us, that no matter how little our love for Jesus, Jesus wants to use us. In time, Peter’s love grew so much that he was able to give his life for the Lord. Drawing close to Jesus and following in his ways, our love also, will grow so that we can accomplish great things for him and for his kingdom.
In the first reading, in the face of persecution and warning not to preach in the name of Jesus. Peter and the apostles continue to proclaim the name of Jesus as the lamb of God who was slain to rescue and save us from death. The Apostle’s failure to obey the Sanhedrin not to preach in the name of Jesus again is not due to pride or to their not knowing that they were subject to the authority of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was imposing a ruling which would have them go against God’s command and their own conscience. They boldly remind the judges that obedience to God comes first. In a world that is revolting against world, where there are laws that stand against the command of God, laws that oppose the order that God has put in nature, the apostles teach us to remind the world that obedience to God must come first. And like the Apostles, we will often have to suffer for standing up for God or for going against the way of the world, we also must rejoice for being found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of God.
Happy Sunday
Rev. Fr. Chidi Onwuka MSSCC