THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
(Acts 5:27b-32, 40b-41; Psalm 30(29); Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19)
Theme: He Can, He Will, He Wants to Transform Us
In this Sunday's readings, we observed that the protagonists—Peter and the Apostles in the first reading, John the Beloved in the second reading, and the Apostles who went fishing in today’s Gospel—had life-changing encounters with the Lord during their nights of pain and moments of tears, distress, and uncertainty. After the Lord’s resurrection, they were raised and refilled with the power of the Spirit; they were led to heed the Lord’s voice, adhere to His commands, and, using the words of the Psalmist, were endowed with the grace to receive His blessings.
In other words, by the power of the Lamb slain but exalted as Saviour, these Apostles, weakened by Christ's death, were reinvigorated by His resurrection; their souls' descent into the abyss of death was reversed, and they were given renewed life. Hence, the Psalmist says, "I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up."
Thus, just like the disciples who were beaten for speaking in Jesus' name and endured a long night of catching nothing until the Lord appeared, we too experience moments of darkness and breaking point episodes that cause doubt, anxiety, anger, and disunity in families.
Nevertheless, those faith-testing times can be overcome by those willing to return to and face the Lord after falling, failing, experiencing heartbreak, or suffering betrayals, just as Peter did in today’s gospel following his triple denials. He was neither condemned nor shamed for his past misdeeds; instead, the Lord acknowledged his failure, loved him with love beyond the senses yet grounded in God’s will, and empowered him to lead His people.
Let us, like Peter, retrace our steps and embrace the Lord with love that reflects the true character of God's love. Even if we cannot love God as much as He loves us, we are encouraged to love Him and our neighbours in our own way, but with His enthusiasm, passion, zeal, and commitment to the Father’s will and determination to make all things new.
Thus, let us approach, extol, and thank the Lord as we are. He will not be condemned; however, we must be open to His Spirit, learn to listen to His voice, and be willing to love the Lord and prepare ourselves to be living instruments of faith and love.
