THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER "C" [2]

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER [2]

Cycle “C”: John 21, 1 – 19

Introduction:

As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, we must always remember that the Risen Christ is both God and man. Raised up to the right hand of the Father as our “Leader and Saviour” (Acts 5,31), Jesus retains all his lovely human qualities. That is why we can always approach him with confidence, knowing that we will receive “mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4,16). That is why we praise God and say: “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever” (Rev. 5,13).

THE HOMILY

When the curtains go up on today’s Gospel, the apostles are flat broke and hungry. Since many of them were fishermen, they did what comes naturally. Their dinner was out there swimming in the lake of Tiberias just waiting to be caught. But the fish proved to be much smarter than they. The apostles spent the whole night on the water and caught nothing but a bad cold and a vile temper. At sunrise they headed towards the shore; it was easy to imagine the fish laughing at them. The sun had risen gloriously out of the east but the men in the boat were in no mood to enjoy it. Nor were they in the mood, perhaps, to recognise the stranger standing on the shore. Or perhaps, the Risen Christ was different in appearance than the one they’d spent the last three years with. The strange figure on the shore ordered them to try again. And strangely enough, they obeyed him. Why did I say strangely ?  Because professional fishermen are smart enough never ever to throw their nets over the starboard side, i.e. on the right side looking forward. But those were his instructions. Secondly, dropping the huge 300-foot nets over the boats was almost a day’s work in itself. And those men were exhausted. Thirdly, it is almost impossible to catch fish in the hot sunlight. But they were under the spell of the stranger whom they did not as yet recognise as Jesus. That was the drawing power of Jesus. One glimpse of him and we love him.

We all know the rest of the story. Hundreds of surprised fish were caught in the net. The apostles recognised who their strange benefactor was. In fact, when they came ashore, the Master was preparing their breakfast. They could hardly believe their eyes as they watched him toasting bread and roasting the freshly caught fish over a charcoal fire. They ought not to have been surprised. They ought to have known the mind of Jesus, that you cannot tell people about God when their bellies are empty. Perhaps you can understand better why the Church collects for hunger and disease. Give them a good breakfast and then a long sermon!

The disciples are instantly able to recognise Jesus, simply by his actions. They had seen him do it before. So often we look for God; so often we wonder if he went out for lunch and forgot to come back. So often we don’t recognise God when he is most present to us in the miracle of each other  -  the miracle of family and companionship. For the young person to walk like their father or have the same accent as their mother, they have to be around their parent, they have to have unwittingly learned from them, and, unknown to themselves, become like them.

For us to recognise Christ in the other person, we have to recognise in that person some of the loving qualities of Christ. Sometimes we forget to look for Jesus in the obvious places, like the mother or father who worries for you, even though it drives you up the wall.

The reality is that God does care, but we must be able to recognise him. Christ is among and, indeed, within us. Perhaps we need to be bold enough to unleash him and allow him to work his magic. Let us live and work in a way that brings a real and living Jesus Christ centre stage.

There is so much doctrine packed into today’s Gospel, but I can take up only one more point and end there. We have been speaking here of the same Christ who has been saluted in music and song by people of genius. This is the very same Jesus about whom countless books have been written and are being written; poems composed and paintings done. Some cities have been names after him. See this Transcendent Lord after his Resurrection; he consents to be a short-order cook and waiter for people down on their luck. The next time you are asked to do something for somebody and you think it beneath your dignity, you may reflect on this Gospel and go out and do the service asked. You will find yourself in good company. I’m sure Jesus would heartily endorse the statement of author E.E. Cummings that says, “Most of the world’s useful work is done by people who are pressed for time or who are tired or who don’t feel well.” That is what love is all about, the love that Jesus asked of Peter and which he himself practised to the end.

PRAYER (Catherine Hooper)

How can I tell of such love to me ?

You made me in your image and hold me in the palm of your hand, your cords of love, strong and fragile as silk bind and hold me.

Rich cords, to family and friends, music and laughter echoing in memories, the light dancing on the water, hills rejoicing.

Cords that found me hiding behind carefully built walls and led me out,

love that heard my heart break and despair and rescued me,

love that overcame my fears and doubts and released me.

The questions and burdens I carry you take, to leave my hands free – to hold yours, and others, free to follow your cords as they move and swirl in the breeze, free to be caught up in the dance of your love, finding myself surrendering to you. How can I tell of such love ? How can I give to such love ?

I am, here am I.