Sermon Thoughts – 3 rd Sunday in the Easter Season

Sermon Thoughts – 3 rd Sunday in the Easter Season

Suppose you are the boss of a Firm. Whom will you appoint as the executive? Whom you will appoint as your staff? No doubt they will be the best personal whom you can engage within your selection and financial settings. And your expectations from this team will be the best, not only for you and your firm but also for their existence too.

The Gospel passage of this 3rd Sunday in the Easter season is a starting of a great Institution. Jesus is calling and entrusting his mission of Church to his apostles. But in this narration, if some doubt on the qualification of these Apostles in this great mission, it is quite natural. Because we are meeting certain weak and unsteady persons in its first part. “I go for fishing”. So decides Apostle Peter and others are following him without arguments.

They were hardworking people. But their hard work of the whole night was unproductive. They had a same night before some years. But this doesn’t remind them that early experience with Jesus. Even then Jesus appears to them in the morning hours and reminds them their past. He is regaining them and strengthening them for their mission.

The characters of Peter and Jesus and some of their expressions are very special here. We note that the narration begins in the night and ends up in the morning. It has got some spiritual meaning too. Night represents not only the darkness around them. It is a mention of the mental situation of the apostles. They were going through a night situation in their faith. Their great teacher Jesus was crucified, whom they trusted much, that he may liberate them politically. Not only that, his body “got lost” from the tomb. They were also confused through the apparitions from the “Risen Jesus” too.

Yes, this is the night hours of their faith; a situation in which they are unable to go forward.

But the picture of Jesus is something genuine and unique. He is there on the shore, on the right side. He is there to guide them to the right shore. His question indicates that he expects a negative answer. He knew that they were unsuccessful in their job. Now it is his turn to support them. Not only in fishing but also in their faith too.

Jesus is recognized by John. But it is Peter who reaches first; it is peter whom Jesus entrusts his Mission and his Church. The threefold question of love towards Jesus now balances his threefold rejection during the trial of Jesus.

Jesus was entrusting his mission to care his sheep. He elects not a perfect man for this mission, but one who has no self love; one who can follow the guidelines of others; one who is ready to correct his failures. Yes it is Peter, fallible, but easily gets up and proceeds to his goal with much more love and dedication. And his motto is “to obey God than men”. He was forgiven by Jesus many times. Now it is his turn to show mercy to his fellow beings.

I think this is the great call and challenge of the Church today.
Jesus calls not only peter and his friends, but also you and me to be the carriers of this good news. Jesus is not a “Boss” of “our world” as I mentioned above. He is different. He is waiting for us on the right shore. He is the only one boss who prepared meals for his followers.
What about our faith in his presence? Is it naked, without mantel? Is it bright enough to recognize him?

Let us Pray and work for his Kingdom in us, around us; which forgives, which rehabilitates, which heals, which understands and enacts according to the needs of his sheep! Let us pray wholeheartedly “thy kingdom come”. Amen!

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Fr Thomas Kalathil