All for Jesus!

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Rev 5:11-14; Jn 21:1-19

The third Sunday of Easter invites us to embrace a life that is lived for Jesus. The readings leave behind the example. 

The first reading shows apostles encountering opposition from the Jewish religious leaders for preaching about the Risen Christ. Two things attract our attention. At first, when brought before the Sanhedrin, the apostles, who were once characterized by fear, boldly affirm their obedience to God rather than human authority. Secondly, we find the apostles ‘rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of Jesus.’ The first reading illustrates the early Church’s resolve to continue their proclamation undeterred. It is this courage that won souls for Christ. 

The second reading highlights John witnessing a vast assembly of angels, living creatures, and elders surrounding God’s throne, joining in worship of the Lamb – Jesus Christ. With its profound Christological implications, the passage affirms Jesus not only as Savior but also as worthy of divine worship alongside God the Father. The universal scope of worship (every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea) translates to a cosmic worship, which is God’s ultimate purpose – to unite the creation in the worship of Christ. Everyone and everything on earth is united in Jesus’ name. 

The Gospel is a moving portrayal wherein Jesus reclaims his apostles and turns the hopeless ones into the courageous heralds of the Good News. It has multiple layers. But it culminates in Jesus winning the hopeless apostles to his side. By what he accomplishes, Jesus shows what it means to encounter and be touched by the Divine. 

1. The Gospel shows what happens in the wake of Jesus’ death. Though Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples were yet to come to terms with the fact of resurrection. Overcome by despair and disbelief, they decide to return to fishing. They now thought that their time with Jesus was a memorable past without any hopeful future. That is why we find Simon Peter leading others to their former profession. But without the Lord’s magic, they catch nothing. We discover that the Lord’s meeting with them is just a recreation of Luke 5:4-5. But it was hard for those who were in despair to recognize the Lord even though he was in their midst. The same happens to a heart that has no faith. 

2. In many ways, the disciples returning to fishing represents us because, more often than not, we do the same in our moments of despair. A girl who was regular to the church told me that she stopped coming because God did not listen to her prayers. She revealed, ‘I prayed fervently to the Lord that my grandma shouldn’t die. But she died. From then onwards, I lost all my faith.’ We must understand that in moments of fear and confusion, it is not that the Lord is not with us, but we are unable to perceive the Lord just as the disciples do not. That is why we must fervently pray that we do not fall prey to despair. 

3. The language of Jesus is truly comforting and empowering. A careful look at Jesus’ statements confirms the fact. ‘Children, have you caught anything to eat? Cast your net over to the right side of the boat, and you will have something; Bring some of the fish you just caught; Have breakfast.’ Jesus replaces their betrayal and desertion with his love and compassion. As someone who was himself subject to pain and suffering, the Risen Lord could understand human vulnerability. The Risen Lord invites us to drink deeply from his love and mercy. 

4. Jesus’ own way of making someone say sorry is beautiful. The triple betrayal of Peter is replaced by a triple affirmation of his love for Jesus and his mission. Through his compassionate gesture, Jesus shows what real forgiveness looks like. He goes on to give the helm of affairs to the one who betrayed him. Our misery is answered with God’s mercy. In psychology, we are taught that we are admired in our strength but loved in our weakness. That applies to the Lord. There is a story in the tradition. The master explains to the disciples that when we sin, we come closer to God. The disciples, obviously taken aback, ask how it is possible. Then the master explains that there is a thread that connects us with the Lord. Each time we sin, the thread is broken. When we repent, the Lord ties it up again. This is how the thread is shortened, and we come closer to the Lord. Obviously, the moral of the story is not about the blessedness of sinfulness but the blessedness of being forgiven. That is true with our Lord. It is not so much of God’s anger that we inherit after our sin, but His mercy and compassion. God is happy when we are strong and loves us more when we are weak. We must take advantage of God’s love, especially when we feel weak and vulnerable. 

5. Jesus asks, ‘Do you love me more than all these things?’ What are those things, if not our personal interests, jobs, careers, futures, lusts, desires, goals, etc., that often distract us from the love of God? This question is not just personal but very profound too. How prepared are we to give a convincing answer to the one who can see through our hearts? We must be genuine like Peter and mean what we say in action. 

6. Finally, it is about what the disciples are suffering from as they decide to return to their former profession. They think they are the masters of their fate. We often behave like the disciples when we take things upon ourselves. We forget that when we come to Jesus, he holds our future and guides our destiny. We must learn to submit to the Divine Agenda, trusting in Paul’s statement that ‘The One who called you is faithful, and He will do it’ (1 Cor 5:24). It was only when the apostles did it that the ordinary fishermen of Galilee were turned into the world-renowned apostles. 

Let us pray that we may become all for Jesus, following the testimony of the apostles. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar