TAKE CARE OF MY SHEEP

III EASTER SUNDAY - John 21:1-19 

There is no doubt about it. With the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples and the apostles in particular changed beyond anything one might expect. Before, they were unable to stand by Jesus during his moments of trial and run away, going into hiding. They were afraid for their own lives and cared only about their safety. Then, after Jesus’ resurrection and after being empowered with the Holy Spirit, they became bold and courageous and they were ready to face the religious leaders of Jerusalem and challenge them to accept the truth: they were guilty of condemning Jesus to death. However, God had proved him right by raising him from the dead “to be leader and saviour” (Act 5:31), so that in him people may find salvation.

This Sunday’s gospel may help us reflect on Peter’s role in the Church. Whenever we read the Gospel of John, we should listen to the meaning hidden in the words because there is always a layer of deeper meaning.

Today’s passage has two sections and they are related. In the first one, we are presented with Jesus revealing himself to a group of disciples going fishing. The group was constituted by seven disciples, making it a perfect group or small community. They stand for the whole Church. In that group - that is, in the Church, Peter took the initiative and the other disciples followed him: “Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’” Apparently they went to get fish. However, we must remember that Jesus had constituted them “fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). And that is the mission of the whole Church, with Peter and the Apostles in the forefront.

Then, we are told that they worked in vain, since they “caught nothing that night”. That is a common experience in the Church. We may work hard and do our best, to no avail. It seems that everything ends in failure. Maybe we  take Jesus out of the picture, like the Apostles did. We may forget that he is the one in charge. Then, while feeling tired and dishearten, Jesus comes to their rescue, even though they did not recognise him. At Jesus’ instructions, they threw “the net out to starboard” and caught plenty of fish. We should never forget that Jesus´word should be our guide and motivation. Only by obedience and faithfulness to him can we produce abundant fruits.

As they were coming ashore with a heavy load of fish, “they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it.” Jesus had been preparing a meal for them. And for that meal, He asked for their contribution: “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” Finally he invites them: “Come and have breakfast.” Jesus never gets tired of inviting us to his table: Come an eat. It is at the eucharistic table that we may recognise him and know that he is the Lord.

In the second section, we have the dialogue of Jesus with Peter. First of all, Jesus address him by his former name, Simon. Jesus had given him a new name, indicating a new reality, the reality of the disciple who recognises Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God and who is ready to proclaim it in public and to give witness to Jesus. However, the reality of Simon, the old man who was an earthly man, remained alive and strong. And for him to be less Simon and more Peter, he had to recognise his sinfulness, his shortcomings and his fragility. The old man is always lurking behind the new man and he may lead  to pride and self-righteousness. If Peter is going to be the shepherd of Christ’s Church, then he must be always on the alert.

Jesus asks each one of us the same question he asked to Peter: Do you love with all your heart? Or are there other loves that have seduced you? Peter answered with sincerity and in truthfulness. However, Jesus insisted and went one asking. Surely, he knows our love for him, but we must say it to become evermore aware of it. We must realise that our love for Christ implies and demands a strong commitment. And then Jesus may entrust to us, as he did to Peter, a role or a mission in his Church. “‘Look after my sheep.”

Let us pray for our Pope Francis, who was called to be the shepherd of the whole flock, the Church.