Sunday Homily 4-18-10, 3rd Easter
Readings: Acts 5, 27-41; Psalm 30, I will Praise You, Lord, for You have Rescued Me; Revelations , 11-14; John 21, 1-14
Third Sunday of Easter – Introduction to the Readings
All of our readings during the Sundays after Easter until Pentecost Sunday come from the same three books, Acts of the Apostles, The Book of Revelation and John’s Gospel. In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles the apostles are again brought before the elders of the Jewish community and told to stop preaching. What we skip over in our reading is an interesting section.
The Sanhedrin wants to put the apostles to death, but one of their members, a Pharisee called Gamaliel dissuades this action by reminding the group that there had been other ‘apparent prophets’ whose followers had dissipated after the prophet was put to death and he argues that either of two things will happen: the apostles will disappear soon, since Jesus has been put to death, or Jesus was the real thing and they had better leave the apostles alone!!
Then our reading today resumes just after the apostles are flogged instead of being put to death.
A few words about the Book of Revelations, since we will be reading from it for the next several Sundays. The book was probably written about the year 95 to 100 CE, by John, though not the same John who wrote the Gospel. It is addressed to the seven churches in
Third Sunday After Easter
My daughter Rosheen loves to read- it always amazed me how quickly she could get through a book. A few years ago an old family friend was ill and Rosheen was visiting her and offered to read to her. Later I remember her telling me how beautiful the language was in the book, something she had not appreciated until she had to read aloud. Some books are so well written that the language is indeed a joy.
Our gospel today is one of those books. We cannot begin to appreciate how much thought has gone into each and every word in the gospel. I am not sure how many of you said to yourselves as I was proclaiming today’s gospel and said the word “charcoal fire” now haven’t I heard that recently!! In fact you did hear it on Good Friday when we proclaimed the “Passion”. Let me remind you of the piece.
“Now the slaves and guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold , and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.” In today’s gospel we read that Jesus was preparing breakfast over a charcoal fire. The two events are linked. In the earlier event, Peter denies even knowing Jesus, three times. In today’s gospel, Jesus helps Peter get past that denial. “Peter, do you love me?” Three times Jesus asks Peter, sort of a parallel to the three times Peter had earlier denied Jesus.
This is another example of the point we discussed on Easter Sunday. The fact that God always gives us second chances. Think about what Peter had done. Jesus had just been arrested, all of the disciples had scattered, Peter had not run away, but was in the courtyard where Jesus was being held. Remember that earlier that evening Jesus had even foretold Peter that he was going to deny him three times.
This denial was no spur of the moment thing. He had been forewarned, and still he denies even knowing Jesus. Pretty serious stuff – and still God gives Peter a chance to repent. God wants Peter back and God wants each one of us back too. Never let anything cause us to stay away, there is no sin too great. Remember Peter.
Picture 1: Mass Begins
Picture 2: Altar Helpers
Picture 3: Offertory
Picture 4: John & Anthony
