This weekend as we celebrate the third Sunday of Easter, we continue with the appearances of the risen Lord as recounted in John’s Gospel. This Sunday’s Gospel selection is packed with details, beginning by taking us to the shore of the Sea of Galilee; the disciples, who are out on the sea fishing, again encounter the risen Jesus who is waiting for them on land. The Gospel implies that they do not recognize Jesus physically, as his appearance has been glorified in the resurrection, but they do recognize him in faith due to their catch of fish having followed Jesus’s command to lower their nets.
This is Peter’s first personal encounter with Jesus since denying knowing him while in the court yard of the high priest during Jesus’s trial. What a change we see in Peter. Most of us would be reluctant to come face to face with the Lord, but Peter, who ran from him, now cannot wait to get to him. Peter does not wait for the boat to get to shore but jumps over the side in a hurry to greet Jesus. While Peter sinned against the Lord, it is apparent that Peter trusts in the Lord’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.
While at breakfast, Jesus asks Peter “do you love me more than these?” This could mean one of two things. One interpretation is that Jesus is not comparing Peter’s love for him with Peter’s love for his brothers, but rather that Jesus asks Peter if Peter’s love for him surpasses the others’ love for Jesus. Another interpretation is that Jesus is asking this in reference to the boat and the nets, symbolic of Peter’s former life; Jesus could be asking if Peter is truly willing to leave it all behind for love of him. What is agreed upon by scholars and theologians is that this is the moment of Peter’s rehabilitation. It was next to a fire that Peter denied that he knew the Lord three times; here, again by a fire, Peter affirms his love for Jesus three times, not with great remonstrations as he had done at the Last Supper but simply by saying with emotion “Lord, you know that I love you.”
Assured of his love, Jesus now tells Peter, rather plainly and not hidden in fine print, what the reality of that love will mean, that days will come when Peter will suffer for that love and even give his life for it though a martyr’s death; then, in the same breath, Jesus once again makes the great invitation to Peter: “follow me.”
As disciples, the same question is asked of us: “do you love me more than these?” Are we striving to perfect our love for the Lord? Are we willing to place love of him before everything and everyone else? Are we willing to accept the crosses that come from loving him? While loving him will certainly bring crosses, his love will bring us beyond those crosses to greater life, both here and in the life to come. Jesus lays everything out before us concerning discipleship, the good and the unpleasant. He also renews for us the same invitation that he renewed for Peter: “follow me.” What’s our answer?
Bringing Back the Cup at Communion
For over two years the Eucharist under the form of the Precious Blood has not been available to most of the faithful due to the COVID pandemic. At Mass on Holy Thursday, without any commentary beforehand, two chalices of the Precious Blood were offered to the faithful that evening and not a drop of the Precious Blood remained at the end of Communion. It was apparent to me that the privilege of the option was well received.
I understand that this is one of those areas where parishioners will have differing opinions: some will have no opinion, some will think it should not come back at present, and some will very much want to have the option of the Precious Blood returned (interestingly, the United States is one of the only places in the world where the Holy See has given permission for the Precious Blood to be given regularly). As pastor, I plan to return the availability of the Precious Blood to those who wish to receive it. Being that this will require two more extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion per Mass, the return of the option to receive the Precious Blood will coincide with the new ministry schedule beginning in June. For those minsters who minster the cup but themselves are not comfortable receiving from it, please know that the priest or deacon at Mass will consume any of the Precious Blood that remains if you ask them to do so.
Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead!
Father Chris House