Today’s Gospel, John 21:1-19, presents some of the disciples in their third encounter with the resurrected Christ. But the focus is really on Peter and his “up close and personal” interaction with Jesus. Before this meeting Peter was ready to go back to his old routine – fishing. Jesus had other plans. He turned Peter around and directed him on a new path as a nurturing shepherd tending God’s sheep. Having witnessed the touchable reality of the Resurrection and experienced healing through loving forgiveness and reconciliation with Jesus, Peter had the strength and courage to take up his new mission.
The contrast between the Peter in the Gospels and the Peter we hear about in the Acts of the Apostles is dramatic. Peter has experienced a real conversion. The man who denied Jesus three times and cowered in a locked room after the crucifixion is now confronting the people he feared. Filled with the Holy Spirit Peter cured sick people and challenged the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5: 29 – 31).
We have the opportunity to interact with Jesus every time we participate in the sacraments. Like Peter, we can experience Jesus’ healing power of forgiveness and reconciliation. We can share a meal with Jesus through the Eucharist and experience the full meaning of sacrificial love. And finally, Jesus asks us the same question he asked Peter, “Do you love me”? Let us pray that through our experience of the Risen Christ we have the strength and courage to say, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” and follow Jesus where ever He may lead us.
God our Father,
how different and how much richer our life would be
if we were more aware of the presence
of your risen Son Jesus among us.
Give us enough love and faith to see him
inspiring and guiding our community
on the road of compassion and justice.
Make us feel his presence
when we are toiling and struggling as if in vain.
Make us recognize him as a guest
in our homes and at our family meals.
Make us fully aware that he is among us
when we meet for prayer and the Eucharist.
For then we will be strong and joyful
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
