Third Sunday 0f Easter, Cycle C

Prayer 

Loving Father,

Open our eyes to see your Son who rose from the dead and opened for us the bright promise of immortality. May we bear witness to his life, death, and resurrection in this Easter Season and throughout our lives. Grant this Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41

The word “apostle” means “one who is sent forth.” The Apostles of the Risen Lord were sent to proclaim the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name.

As Jesus was dragged before the Sanhedrin, the Apostles are now dragged before the chief priest and the court. They are ordered to stop teaching in Jesus’ name. Of course, Peter and his brothers cannot comply. “We must obey God rather than men,” says Peter. He adds, “We are witnesses of these things (namely the appearances of the Risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit among them).

The old Quaker song, “How Can I Keep from Singing,” rings true in the hearts and the lives of the Apostles.

Because of what they have seen, they cannot keep from singing the praises of the Lord.

The song of Christ has been sung for over 2,000 years. It is a song that echoes through the ages and rests upon the hearts of countless numbers even today.

Question:

Are you counted among those who sing the praises of Jesus?

2nd Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

John’s vision in the Book of Revelation has many angels, creatures, and elders surrounding the heavenly throne as they give praise to God and to the Lamb (Jesus).

Dating back to the 2nd Century, tradition has it that the “four living creatures” in this Reading are the Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They appear as a lion (Mark), an ox (Luke), a man with wings (Matthew), and an eagle (John). While there is no biblical evidence connecting these creatures with the Evangelists, we can cherish the symbolic connection.

There is no doubt that the four Gospels have glorified the Risen Lord throughout the Christian era. These Gospels share the birth, life, mission, death and resurrection of the Jesus Christ. Without these Gospels, the rest of the Bible would fall short. This is why the Church stands when the Gospel Book is carried and why we sing “Alleluia” when they are proclaimed.

These Gospels are rightfully honored within our Church and most definitely have a place at the throne of God.

Question:

How do the Gospels inspire you?

Gospel: John 21:1-19

What is the significance of the 153 fish caught by the Apostles? It is hard to speculate, but St. Jerome assumed it referred to the number of fish species in the Sea of Tiberius (Sea of Galilee). Whether or not this theory has merit, the point is that the catch was large. The greater miracle occurs when they discover that, “even though they were so many, the net was not torn.”

By now, the disciples have already seen the Risen Lord. This time, unlike the Lord’s previous appearances, Jesus does something spectacular. He eats with His Apostles or, at least He physically hands them the food. (We see in the Acts 1:4 that Jesus does in fact eat with them.) As if they (and we) need further confirmation that He is raised physically, the Lord’s consuming a meal is amazing.

The miraculous catch of the fish and the sharing of a meal with the Lord set the stage for the final act of this passage from John. Here, Jesus now expects Peter to feed His lambs and tend His sheep. This message is for all of the Apostles and for each of us. For example, when we are gathered (as fish in a net) at Mass to hear the Word of God and then break bread (as the Apostles did), we are sent from Mass to tend to the Lord’s sheep (family, friends, co-workers).

Question:

As you go out into the world each day and encounter people, do you remember that they are His lambs? How do you tend to them?

This Week’s Task 

Make it a point this Easter to pray for one person who has been away from the Church and, after you have prayed, invite him or her with you to a Sunday Mass and breakfast.

Group Prayer

The leader, using the words of Jesus, will ask each member the following three times:

“(Name) do you love me?” The member responds:

“You know that I love you.”

The leader will then say to the member: “Feed my sheep.”

Psalm 

Response: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;

you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.

R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will.

At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing.

R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me; O LORD, be my helper.

You changed my mourning into dancing;

O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Conclude with an Our Father

Used with permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.