Third Sunday of Easter: C: May 4, 2025

 A QUESTION OF LOYALTY AND LOVE : (Peter declares his loyalty and love to the Lord)

Introduction: Peter denied his Master and Lord three times on the night of the Lord's passion. Yet the risen Lord calls him aside and then Peter  reaffirms his love for Him three times. Christ restores him to where he was before and confirms him as chief-shepherd of His flock. 

First Reading: Acts 5: 27 to 32 and 40 to 41

Second Reading: Apocalypse 5: 12 to 14

Gospel Reading: John 21: 1 to 19

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Peter and other Apostles are imprisoned and put on trial because of their preaching and witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Yet they are determined to continue their mission. In fact, they are glad to suffer for Christ. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear that Peter and other Apostles are cautioned by the Jewish authorities. They are ordered not to preach in the name of Jesus. But the Apostles continue to preach boldly and fearlessly and tell the people: "We must obey God rather than men." It is a very appropriate message for us too. We too must adhere to it in our challenging and difficult situations in life. The Apostles proclaim that they are witnesses to the life and death of Jesus on the cross but God has raised Him and glorified Him. 

   *Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. St. John narrates a heavenly vision of the glorified Jesus under the image of a lamb that is slain as a sacrifice. A hymn in praise of the crucified and risen Christ is narrated. 

Do you love me more than these?                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The risen Lord appears to seven of the Apostles on the shore of the sea of Tiberius. During their meeting, the risen Lord asks Peter one and the same question three times: "Do you love me?" Before His crucifixion and death on the cross, Peter denied Him three times. Now Peter is asked by the Lord to profess his love for Him three times in public. After Peter expresses his deep love for the Lord, the risen Lord instructs Peter that he would be the foundation, the source of strength and the unity in the new community of the faithful. Peter's story is one of calling, falling and recalling. Peter certainly fails when Jesus needed him most. But Jesus' call does not exclude failures. Peter learned more about loyalty, life and about his own weaknesses during that terrible night when he denied His Master, than in all his previous years with Him. The risen Lord encourages Peter to move forward in faith. He asks him to declare his love for Him. Then Peter is entrusted with the care of the community of the faithful with the words: "Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." Often we too are like Peter. We too have our many failures and falls. We too need someone who understands our weaknesses and failures. We too need someone who encourages us to overcome our failures. The risen Lord is always there to help us to go forward in times of crises and failures. We in turn should extend the same understanding and love towards others, especially those who fail us. May the Lord Jesus, who encouraged Peter and strengthened him to walk in the promises of the Lord, bless you and help you to overcome your many failures and falls in life's journey. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, May 4, 2025." Thanks.)