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Do You Love the Risen Lord Jesus above All Else?
May the Lord Jesus continue to touch your life so that you will be able to reach out in a loving and caring way to those whom GOD has entrusted to your care, and may you sense the joy of being a disciple of the Lord Jesus, especially at that times when you are challenged about your belief.
Being aware of one’s calling to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus can be both joyful and challenging. The joyful experience comes from knowing that the Risen Lord Jesus is with us, empowering us through the Holy Spirit, to give witness to the Good News. The challenging aspect of being a disciple comes when we meet opposition for our belief in the Risen Lord. We must be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel in the Name of the Lord Jesus. That will give us the strength when difficult times come and allow us to rejoice in the Name of the Lord – Jesus.
Following the Risen Lord Jesus can lead both to periods of great joy and to times of persecution, and sometimes to both at the same time. In our First Reading we hear how the Spirit-filled St. Peter rejoices in being able to give witness to the name of Jesus even if that means his having to suffer for doing so. The Responsorial Psalm is a prayer of one who realizes that GOD protects the faithful one even in the midst of one’s enemies. The reading from the Book of Revelation gives us a glimpse into the joyful celebration of GOD’s heavenly court. The Gospel recounts another of the Risen Lord’s appearances to some of His disciples, this time at the Sea of Galilee and the long form of the Gospel also focuses on Peter’s response to Jesus’ presence and His questions.
First Reading Acts 5:27-32,40-41: We are witnesses to all this: we and the Holy Spirit
Commentary: By the time this hearing before the Sanhedrin occurs, the apostles have already been arrested twice for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. The first time only Peter and John were arrested, interrogated and given a warning. Now it seems to be a whole group of the apostles. They were arrested, delivered from prison by an angel – another sign that God looks after his own people – and voluntarily went to face the Sanhedrin. The task of the apostle is first and foremost to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus and his new life, a positive message of encouragement. Is our message of Christianity to those whom we meet always a message of encouragement? Does it always set out to inspire new life? All the way through the Acts of the Apostles we see the interplay of harassment of Christ’s messengers and protection by God. Peter is arrested and is about to be executed when he is delivered from prison by an angel. Later on, Paul is imprisoned and delivered from prison by an earthquake. It is no surprise that the same harassment, mockery and persecution continues throughout the history of the Church.
Responsorial Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13: I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.
The psalmist seems to have undergone an experience of having been persecuted for belief in GOD. The trust that the psalmist has in the GOD Who can “protect” him from the hands of his enemies would be words that Peter and the other apostles could easily affirm. “Protection” does not necessarily mean “freedom from suffering” because one is faithful to GOD’s directives. It stems from being able to endure whatever happens and not giving up one’s trust in GOD.
Second Reading Apocalypse 5:11-14: The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given riches and power
Commentary: This reading from Revelation shows us a scene in the heavenly throne-room, the Lamb sacrificed enthroned. In fact this is the second half of the scene, the first half of which shows God enthroned in glory. Now we see the triumphant Lamb on the same throne, being accorded the same honours by the 24 elders and by all living creatures as were accorded to the LORD God. Note the sevenfold acclamation! Then there is a fourfold acclamation from the four animals, four-square, who already in Ezekiel’s vision of the divine throne represent the solidity of the universe. The surest indication that, already in the early Church, the Risen Christ was seen as fully equal to the Father is the equality of worship accorded to them both by the whole of creation. It is precisely as the sacrificed Lamb of God that Jesus enters into the sanctuary, seated on the throne of God and presenting the very sacrifice which we present in the Eucharist. There is no time in God, and this sacrifice is ‘once and for all’. the sacrifice on our altars is no new sacrifice but is the sacrifice of obedience which Christ presents in permanence to his Father.
Gospel John 21:1-19: Jesus stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish
Commentary: This epilogue to the Gospel of John shows an extraordinary link at the oral tradition stage to Luke’s version of the Call of the Disciples: the same unsuccessful fishing all night, the success at Jesus’ command, and the commission to proclaim the Gospel. As in so many encounters with the Risen Christ, he is an awesome figure, the same person but mysteriously changed, so that they have difficulty recognising him. In addition it has the touching scene of Peter’s restoration: a triple declaration of love and loyalty is extorted from Peter to compensate for his triple denial, and a triple commission is given to him, concluding with the repeat of his call, ‘Follow me’ – as the promise of his martyrdom still echoes in his ears. While Matthew’s gospel concludes with a promise that the Risen Christ will be always with his Church, this gospel paints it occurring in practice: Jesus feeds his followers at the picnic breakfast. Why the 153 fish? For the Venerable Bede it is obvious: put together the numbers from 1 to 16, to this add 10 for the Commandments and 7 for the days of creation, and you get 153. There may be more to it than that!
Reflection: Why didn't the apostles immediately recognize the Risen Lord Jesus when he greeted them at the Sea of Tiberias (also called the lake of Gennesaret or Galilee)? John gives us a clue. He states that Peter had decided to return to his home district of Galilee, very likely so he could resume his fishing career. Peter was discouraged and didn't know what to do after the tragedy of Jesus' death! He went back to his previous job as a fisherman out of uncertainty for his future. Six of the other apostles followed him back to Galilee.
The Lord Jesus renews Peter's faith and calling - and ours as well: Why did Jesus choose to reveal himself to the apostles at the Sea of Galilee - and right after they had spent a whole night of futile fishing? The Risen Lord was waiting on the shore for Peter and the other apostles. When their boat drew near the shore, Jesus questioned them and then gave a command to lower their nets into the sea. When their nets began to burst at the great haul of fish, John, the beloved disciple, recognized that it was the Lord who was speaking to them. Peter then immediately leaped from the boat and ran to the Lord. Do you run to the Lord Jesus when you meet setbacks and disappointments, and when you faith is being put to the test? The Lord Jesus is always ready to renew us in faith and to give each of us fresh hope in his promises for us.
Why did Jesus perform this miraculous catch of fish after his third resurrection appearance to the apostles? By looking back to the first miracle of the great catch of fish, we can recognize the significance of Jesus repeating this miracle again for his apostles. The first miracle took place at the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Galilee when the Lord called Peter to leave all and follow him. After Peter had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus commanded him to lower his nets (see Luke 5:4-11). When his nets began to break under the weight of the great haul, Jesus then spoke to Peter and gave him a new calling and mission - from now on he would be "catching people" for the kingdom of God (Luke 5:10). Jesus repeats this miracle for Peter to remind him that he must continue his mission of "catching people" and "making disciples" for the kingdom of Christ.
Skeptics who disbelieve the resurrection accounts say the disciples only saw a vision of Jesus. The Gospels, however, give us a vivid picture of the reality of the resurrected and glorified body of the Lord Jesus. Jesus went out of his way to offer his disciples various proofs of his physical resurrection - that he is real and true flesh, not just a spirit or imaginary ghost.
Do you love me more than anything else? In his third appearance to the apostles, Jesus prepared a breakfast for them and ate with them. Peter's prompt response to draw near to the Lord and eat breakfast with him stands in sharp contrast to his previous denial and distancing himself from his Master during the night of Jesus' arrest and trial. Why did Jesus question Peter's love and loyalty three times in front of the other disciples? It must have caused Peter pain and sorrow since he had publicly denied Jesus three times previously. Now Peter, full of remorse and humility, unequivocally stated that he loved his Lord and Master and was willing to serve him whatever it might cost.
When Jesus asked Peter "do you love me more than these?" he may have pointed to the boats, nets and other fishing companions. He may have challenged Peter to let go of his career as a fisherman for the task of shepherding the people whom Christ would call to be his disciples. Jesus may have also pointed to the other apostles and to Peter's previous boast: "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away" (Matthew 26:33). Peter now makes no boast or comparison but humbly responds: "You know I love you."
The Lord wants to renew our minds and rekindle our hearts with his transforming love: The Lord Jesus calls each one of us, even in our personal struggles, weakness, and sin, to draw near to him as our merciful Healer and Savior. He invites us to choose him as our Lord and to love him above all else. What can hold us back from giving him our undivided love and unqualified loyalty (Romans 8:38-39)? Nothing but our own sinful pride and stubborn will, and blind fear can hold us back from receiving his gracious forgiveness, loving-kindness, and faithful love. God's abundant grace (favor and blessing) is a free and unmerited gift, far beyond what we deserve or could possibly hope to obtain through our own means. We can never outmatch God in generosity and goodness. He loved us first and our love for him is a response to his exceeding grace (unmerited favor) and mercy.
Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) wrote in his famous confession a remarkable prayer of thanksgiving and love:
"Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient and so new. Late have I loved you! ...You shone your Self upon me to drive away my blindness. You breathed your fragrance upon me... and in astonishment I drew my breath...now I pant for you! I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst for you. You touched me! - and I burn to live within your peace. " (Confessions 10:27)
The Lord Jesus wants to personally draw near to each one of us and he knocks every day on the door of our hearts and he waits for our response (Revelation 3:20). Do you recognize the Lord's presence with you and do you listen for his voice as he speaks to you in your heart and through the word of God in the Sacred Scriptures? The Lord is ever ready to help us grow in the knowledge of his great love for us and in the exceeding richness of his mercies and goodness towards us. Ask the Lord Jesus to rekindle your love for him and to transform your life through the power and action of the Holy Spirit who dwells within you.
Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with your merciful love and remove everything that is unkind, ungrateful, unloving and unholy, and that is not in accord with your will. May I always seek to love you above all else and follow you wherever you wish to lead me.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Jesus' question to Peter, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Christ rose again in the flesh, and Peter rose in the spirit because, when Christ died in his passion, Peter died by his denial. Christ the Lord was raised from the dead, and out of his love he raised Peter. He questioned him about the love he was confessing and entrusted him with his sheep. After all, what benefit could Peter confer on Christ by the mere fact of his loving Christ? If Christ loves you, it is to your advantage, not Christ's. And if you love Christ, it is to your advantage, not Christ's. And yet Christ the Lord wanted to indicate how people ought to show that they love Christ. And he made it plain enough by entrusting him with his sheep. 'Do you love me?' 'I do' 'Feed my sheep.' All this once, all this a second time, all this a third time. Peter made no other reply than that he loved him. The Lord asked no other question but whether he loved him. When Peter answered, our Lord did nothing else but entrust his sheep to him."(excerpt from Sermon 229n)
the joy of persecution
“The apostles for their part left the Sanhedrin full of joy that they had been judged worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of the Name.” —Acts 5:41
How do you know whether you’re really getting into the Easter Spirit? Are you being persecuted because of your witness for the risen Christ? Are you joyful that you have been judged worthy of this persecution? Persecution and joy are the tell-tale signs of a real Easter — not either persecution or joy, but both persecution and joy.
This doesn’t mean that we have to feel good about persecution, rather that we rejoice in the Lord always no matter what (Phil 4:4). Some Christians might maintain they are witnessing for Jesus but not being persecuted, because those around them are too nice to do such a thing. Possibly the Lord has spared them persecution for a time, but more likely they’re not fully proclaiming the radical Gospel of the risen Christ.
When people don’t believe in the risen Christ, persecution is a normal response to the earth-shaking, mind-boggling, life-transforming message of the Resurrection. There’s nothing that can shake people up more than the Resurrection (see e.g. Mt 28:11-15). Since Jesus is risen and death is defeated, people must change their lives dramatically and radically. This challenge will result in repentance or persecution or possibly both. Both of these reactions result in joy for Christians (see Lk 15:7; Acts 5:41).
Prayer: Father, may I rejoice in persecution more than in pleasure. “To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!” —Rv 5:13. Praise the risen Jesus, true God and true Man, only Hope of the world!
The personal action for today: When have I experienced great joy in being a follower of the Lord Jesus? Have there been times when it was hard to be a witness for Jesus? How would I respond to Jesus when He asks me: “Do you love me?” How will I live out my response to that question? Who might be the most in need of my living out the love I have for the Lord Jesus?
*Blessed Michael Giedroy: A life of physical pain and mental torment didn’t prevent Michael Giedroyc from achieving holiness.
Born near Vilnius, Lithuania, Michael suffered from physical and permanent handicaps from birth. He was a dwarf who had the use of only one foot. Because of his delicate physical condition, his formal education was frequently interrupted. But over time, Michael showed special skills at metalwork. Working with bronze and silver, he created sacred vessels, including chalices.
He traveled to Kraków, Poland, where he joined the Augustinians. He received permission to live the life of a hermit in a cell adjoining the monastery. There Michael spent his days in prayer, fasted and abstained from all meat and lived to an old age. Though he knew the meaning of suffering throughout his years, his rich spiritual life brought him consolation. Michael’s long life ended in 1485 in Kraków.
Five hundred years later, Pope John Paul II visited the city and spoke to the faculty of the Pontifical Academy of Theology. The 15th century in Kraków, the pope said, was “the century of saints.” Among those he cited was Blessed Michael Giedroyc.
Many people today face a life of suffering and discrimination due to physical handicaps. Let’s ask Blessed Michael Giedroyc to pray for them that their situation might be addressed by society at large.