Today is Sunday, May 5, 2019. It is the first Sunday of the month but is the 3rd Sunday of Easter. Today’s Psalm is, “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.”
The 1st Reading for the day is from Acts 5:27-32, 40b – 41. It says:
So they brought them in and made them stand before the Council; and the High Priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching; and you intend charging us with the killing of this man.” To this, Peter and the apostles replied, “Better for us to obey God, rather than any human authority!
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on the wooden post. God set him at his right hand, as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
They called in the apostles and had them whipped; and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus, the Savior. Then they set them free.
The apostles went out from the Council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name.
This Sunday’s 2nd Reading is from Revelation 5:11-14.
I went on looking; I heard the noise of a multitude of angels, gathered around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, numbering millions of millions, crying out with a loud voice:
Worthy is the lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor, glory, and praise.
Then I heard the voice of the whole universe, heaven, earth, sea, and the place of the dead; every creature cried out;
To him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise, honor, glory and power, for ever and ever.
And the four living creatures said, Amen, while the elders bowed down and worshipped.
Today’s Gospel is from John 21:1-19. It says:
After this, Jesus revealed to his disciples by the Lake of Tiberias. He appeared to them in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas who was called the Twin; Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together; and Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They replied, “We will come with you.” And they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, “Friends, have you anything to eat?” They answered, “Nothing.” Then he said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat and you will find something.” When they had lowered the net, they were not able to pull it in because of the great number of fish.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” Simon Peter put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and jumped into the water. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; they were not far from land, about a hundred meters.
When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed into the boat and pulled the net to the shore, It was full of big fish – one hundred and fifty-three – but, in spite of this, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come and had breakfast.” And not one of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” for they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and he did the same with the fish.
This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself top his disciples after rising from the dead.
After they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than they do?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Look after my sheep.” And a third time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time. “Do you love me?” and he said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep! Truly, I say to you, when you were young, you put on your belt and walked where you like. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead you where you do not wish to go.”
Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify God. And he added, “Follow me!”
READ: Jesus appears to his disciples, and invites them to go fishing with him. They go with him and catch a lot of fish. Then Jesus invites them to eat breakfast with him who seems to be strange to them after his resurrection. Jesus then asks Peter if he loves him more than anyone or anything else.
REFLECT: What is your answer of Jesus ask you the same questions? Can you truly say you totally love him? You can say it with honesty and humility if you have been actually following Jesus in his journey, in our case, in the gospel. Hence, you should be familiar with the gospel and make relevant conclusions.
NB: Our heartfelt thanks to the Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., publisher of the book Bible Diary 2019 from where we source the Word of God that we are sharing with our fellow faithful every Sunday through this space.
