3rd SUNDAY of EASTER YEAR C
I remember when I was around 6 or 7 years old, my grandma asked me to bring a plastic bag full of raw chicken eggs to my aunt. I never thought of holding the bottom of the bag, I was carrying it by its handles. Of course, the plastic bag ripped and every egg fell to the ground. My grandma saw the incident and scolded me for wasting the eggs and not using my common sense. My grandpa, hearing the commotion, came out and checked the situation, went back in and got out two broomsticks, handed me one and helped me clean the mess. Then he took me by the hand and accompanied me to the store. He bought the same number of eggs but asked the vendor to put them separately into two plastic bags. He took the bigger bag, showing me how to properly hold it, then he entrusted to me the little one. In no time, we delivered them to my aunt. Such a shameful and humbling experience has offered me important lessons by learning from my mistakes and failures, but it also helped me more to become a better person by being forgiven and shown unconditional love and acceptance. I believe this is one of the themes that we can reflect in our Gospel for today.
Encountering the Risen Christ ought to be a joyful reunion – but it wasn’t necessarily the experience of his disciples. They have hit rock bottom in their shame and guilt for abandoning their Master and Lord in his struggling moments. They felt like losers and big failures to the one who sacrificed his life for them, whom he treated as friends. They tried to forget everything, they tried to take Jesus out of their consciousness by going back to their old way of living. They were trying to make sense of life without Jesus. But that whole night of trying to make a catch ended up futile as well. It is not only the nets that are empty. The seven also experienced an inner emptiness that they tried to fill with their own capacity and initiative. Here we arrive at the first point of reflection – without Christ, we can do nothing. Apart from God, we can find no meaning or purpose in life.
Just as things could not get any worse, Jesus, who they thought was a stranger, was calling out to them and waiting for them on the shore. Here he proves to be the good shepherd – never abandoning his flock, never giving up on them, following them wherever they would go. He calls them children, wanting to restore their relationship of trust and fellowship, expressing the truth that they depend on him, who can bring them life, and who shows them where they can find abundance. When they recognized him, starting from the beloved disciple, they approach him at the shore, where they found breakfast prepared for them. Not only did he fill up their bellies, but he also filled their empty and disappointed hearts. Here we arrive at the second point of reflection – Jesus meets us wherever we are: even in emptiness, in the futility of human effort alone, when we try to stand on their own and separate ourselves from him. He becomes present, affirms us and offers us what we need.
The charcoal fire, where Jesus kept the bread and the fish warm, reminds us of the same bonfire in the courtyard of the High Priest where Peter was trying to keep himself warm. Back then, Peter denied his association and knowledge of Jesus to save his skin. That charcoal fire on the shore symbolized Jesus’ desire to rekindle his friendship with Peter. It also signified Jesus’ desire to renew Peter as a disciple and prepare him to step up as Shepherd in his place. Peter responds not by talking for himself. He links his response to what Jesus already knew of him: He loves Jesus conditionally. This does not hinder Jesus from inviting Peter to strive to love others the way he loves. Even if his ego is hurt and he might be tempted to excuse himself or assert himself over Jesus, Peter continues to rely on Jesus. Here we arrive at the third point of reflection – Jesus’ unconditional love affirms us, heals us, encourages us and empowers us to serve and offer the gift of ourselves to others. Jesus’ gracious love for Peter teaches Peter not to trust in his own capabilities but in Jesus who knows his heart, his limitations and potentials, and knows how to expand it and tranform it like his own heart.
Several people would ask me, “Why do you remain friends with this and that person? It is not worth your time and energy. They will hurt you, reject you, disappoint you, and use you.” And I would answer, “Because when I was a failure and weak, there was always someone who never gave up on me. And before that person passed away, he told me to pay it forward.
We or somebody we know may have experienced significant failures and struggles with feelings of unworthiness. Today’s good news offers us and them hope and assurance that, like Peter, we can experience restoration and discover a new calling in serving others. Whether through community service, ministry, or acts of kindness, we can find purpose and fulfillment in sharing Christ’s love with those around us. It challenges us to recognize His presence in our lives, accept His forgiveness, and wholeheartedly commit to serving others in His name.
