Homily for 3rd Sunday of Easter April 18, 2010
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day!
Johnny Nash sang this popular song back in the seventies and it has a very uplifting message.
We all want to see clearly now. Many times in our lives we lose focus or become blinded to things right in front of us.
As people of faith, do we see Jesus clearly now? Do we allow Him to remove all obstacles in our way; obstacles that distract us from placing our focus on Him?
Today’s Gospel message addresses this in dramatic fashion. As we continue reading the post-Resurrection stories from John’s Gospel we have yet a third appearance of Jesus to his friends; the apostles and disciples. And like the first two, Jesus is not yet immediately recognized. Not until he challenges them to cast the net into the sea and they catch an overwhelming number of fish; we learn 153 in all. We also learn that while stretched to its’ limits, the net does not break.
When John tells Peter it is the Lord, Peter is so excited that he actually puts all of his garments on and then jumps into the sea swimming to Jesus waiting on the shore. And they eat. Every post-Resurrection appearance centers on a meal; the community is invited to eat; to break bread with Jesus. And finally, Jesus questions Peter, the leader. Do you love me, he asks three times. With each positive response Jesus replies feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.
Here Jesus allows His mercy and love to become real for Peter. Peter denies Christ three times, we recall, while warming himself by a fire. With his three-fold replies today Jesus affirms Peter the fisherman as the shepherd; His first visible vicar of Earth; our first Pope. And among the last words Jesus ever utters in the Gospel He addresses to Peter: follow me.
Today we, gathered together are in the same place and same situation as Peter and the others. In many ways, Jesus is obscured from us in our busy everyday lives. Yet He is standing there; right on our own personal seashores, and with focus, He comes into clear vision. And he challenges us not to throw our nets but to give our heart to Him completely. And like those nets; our hearts can be filled up, without ever breaking, with the love and mercy of Jesus and a personal relationship with Him that awaits us all. This is a gift far greater than those 153 fish.
Jesus also asks us; do you love me? What is our response? Not just our words, no, what is our response? Do we love Him enough to do what He asks us to do? Do we follow His teachings and submit to the role of His one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church?
Finally, Jesus invites us; follow me. And all of us are challenged to ask ourselves; do we truly follow Him, who died for us and rose for us so we may have eternal life?
And it all goes back to seeing clearly now. Focusing on Jesus and recognizing Him. We are called to recognize Him in the Church; His sacraments, His word, Reconciliation and most excellently in the Eucharist.
But we are also challenged to see clearly and recognize Him everyday; at work, school or at home. Do we recognize Jesus in our own family and friends? Do we recognize Him in the stranger or even the downtrodden? Do we recognize Him in the way we conduct our jobs and our personal lives? Do we recognize Him because if others saw how we act and live in darkness it would look no different than the way we act and live in the light of day?
In our week ahead, see Jesus clearly; focus on Him completely. How? A suggestion: read prayerfully the 21st chapter of John’s Gospel. Let this lesson become part of us in this week. Make a commitment to focus on Him completely by praying with Him at least once, here in Church, before the Tabernacle. Finally, in this week ahead, see Jesus in someone least expected. Feed someone who is hungry, clothe someone naked, visit someone in prison; even if it is the prison of their own sin.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day.
And the Son says to all of us…follow me!
Johnny Nash sang this popular song back in the seventies and it has a very uplifting message.
We all want to see clearly now. Many times in our lives we lose focus or become blinded to things right in front of us.
As people of faith, do we see Jesus clearly now? Do we allow Him to remove all obstacles in our way; obstacles that distract us from placing our focus on Him?
Today’s Gospel message addresses this in dramatic fashion. As we continue reading the post-Resurrection stories from John’s Gospel we have yet a third appearance of Jesus to his friends; the apostles and disciples. And like the first two, Jesus is not yet immediately recognized. Not until he challenges them to cast the net into the sea and they catch an overwhelming number of fish; we learn 153 in all. We also learn that while stretched to its’ limits, the net does not break.
When John tells Peter it is the Lord, Peter is so excited that he actually puts all of his garments on and then jumps into the sea swimming to Jesus waiting on the shore. And they eat. Every post-Resurrection appearance centers on a meal; the community is invited to eat; to break bread with Jesus. And finally, Jesus questions Peter, the leader. Do you love me, he asks three times. With each positive response Jesus replies feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.
Here Jesus allows His mercy and love to become real for Peter. Peter denies Christ three times, we recall, while warming himself by a fire. With his three-fold replies today Jesus affirms Peter the fisherman as the shepherd; His first visible vicar of Earth; our first Pope. And among the last words Jesus ever utters in the Gospel He addresses to Peter: follow me.
Today we, gathered together are in the same place and same situation as Peter and the others. In many ways, Jesus is obscured from us in our busy everyday lives. Yet He is standing there; right on our own personal seashores, and with focus, He comes into clear vision. And he challenges us not to throw our nets but to give our heart to Him completely. And like those nets; our hearts can be filled up, without ever breaking, with the love and mercy of Jesus and a personal relationship with Him that awaits us all. This is a gift far greater than those 153 fish.
Jesus also asks us; do you love me? What is our response? Not just our words, no, what is our response? Do we love Him enough to do what He asks us to do? Do we follow His teachings and submit to the role of His one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church?
Finally, Jesus invites us; follow me. And all of us are challenged to ask ourselves; do we truly follow Him, who died for us and rose for us so we may have eternal life?
And it all goes back to seeing clearly now. Focusing on Jesus and recognizing Him. We are called to recognize Him in the Church; His sacraments, His word, Reconciliation and most excellently in the Eucharist.
But we are also challenged to see clearly and recognize Him everyday; at work, school or at home. Do we recognize Jesus in our own family and friends? Do we recognize Him in the stranger or even the downtrodden? Do we recognize Him in the way we conduct our jobs and our personal lives? Do we recognize Him because if others saw how we act and live in darkness it would look no different than the way we act and live in the light of day?
In our week ahead, see Jesus clearly; focus on Him completely. How? A suggestion: read prayerfully the 21st chapter of John’s Gospel. Let this lesson become part of us in this week. Make a commitment to focus on Him completely by praying with Him at least once, here in Church, before the Tabernacle. Finally, in this week ahead, see Jesus in someone least expected. Feed someone who is hungry, clothe someone naked, visit someone in prison; even if it is the prison of their own sin.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day.
And the Son says to all of us…follow me!
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