EASTER SUNDAY III
Peter and Us -- Young and Old
Our Gospel reading this weekend appears as an epilogue to the original concluding chapter of the Fourth Gospel, viz., Jn 20. Last week, we heard what were meant to be Jesus’ last words in the original Gospel of John, “Blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed.” (That’s us, folks, if we accept God’s Grace.)
This weekend, we hear of another appearance of the Risen One to a group of seven of “His own.” Now, they go fishing in the
After the miraculous catch of 153 fish (who bothered to count?), when the disciples come ashore, Jesus is preparing a breakfast for them. Imagine that. After all that Jesus had been through, He bothers to be both the Chef and the Host for a bread-fish gathering, reminiscent of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish, mentioned earlier.
Jesus had already greeted His own with “Peace be with you (Shalom aleichem)” in the Gospel last Sunday three times. Now, St Peter was confronted by three questions from Jesus, ‘Do you love me more than these?” When Jesus raises the question a third time, Peter knew where Jesus was heading. This was his triple rehabilitation for his triple denial. (Incidentally, part of the scene provokes another hint at the story, the charcoal fire that was last mentioned on the cold night of Peter’s denial.)
Next, Jesus, Who has just commissioned Peter to feed the lambs warns Peter that his pastoral future resembles Jesus’ Ministry in another way. Jesus tells Peter, obscurely, that Peter himself will lay down his life for the sheep in his martyrdom years later.
In many ways, St Peter is an archetypal Christian. He can be a big talker; he can be a failure; he can be forgiven and rehabilitated, just like all of us. He is always a part of God’s plan.
However, like every human person, St Peter experienced the vicissitudes of life. He had good days; he had bad days. He experienced disappointment, rejection, absurdity, failure, trouble and sorrows, just as did Jesus and just as we do.
St Peter also went through the stages of life. When he was a young person, he wore what he wanted and went where he wanted. When he was older, he went where he preferred not to go (to crucifixion on Vatican Hill, c. 67AD).
Hindu thought tells us that each adult goes through three stages of life. When we are young, we build our tower, we make our mark, we take the world by storm. That is fine and good (but for a Catholic, we always must follow Jesus’ Gospel in our dealings with others.) Then, at one point or another, we experience the onset of discomfort and disillusionment. Life is bigger than we are. (Hindus call this “forest dwelling”.) When we transcend with God’s Help the shock that we are not the center of the universe, we become “happy, wise folks”, we realize that God’s plan has always been kicking in for us. It is just that we have not seen it.
St Peter can remind us of ourselves. Once he was a young man and did what he wanted. Then, when he became older, he realized with God’s Help that he was not the hotshot that he thought he was. He learned that he was not the captain of his own ship. Rather, he was part of God’s family. He was flawed. He fell at times into sin. He was forgiven in Christ Jesus and restored. He did his job and laid down his life for Christ. With God’s Help, we can do the same. Life in Christ is beautiful!!!! 042207AD jfq
