Being Open to the Spirit of the Lord

 Third Sunday of Easter - Cycle C:  May 01, 2022

Readings: Acts 5:27–32, 40–41; Psalm 30:2, 4–6, 11–13; Revelation 5:11–14; John 21:1–19

(Resurrected Jesus with the charcoal fire frying fish for his disciples)
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One of the descriptions of the human person in the Bible is ‘spirit’. We are spirit in the world.  The prominent Catholic theologian, Fr Karl Rahner, SJ wrote a book entitled Geist in Welt, "Spirit in the World." St. Paul often writes in his letters that we are such, and we have to listen to the spirit of God. We are able to make sense of the spirit because of Jesus Christ. The Bible also speaks about the Holy Spirit, one of the persons of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit rests on Jesus at his baptism, and at the end of Jesus’ life, the Spirit enables him to drink the cup of suffering. And the spirit of the Lord unites the disciples of Jesus. Today, we have a description of the Risen Jesus who brings his fishing disciples to a breakfast table, in fact, he prepares breakfast for them and then appoints Peter as the head of the group to lead and proclaim what he had done as a preacher, teacher and healer. It is fascinating to hear the way Peter is called to lead the group in that rather dramatic conversation which takes place between Jesus and Peter.

1. Risen Jesus: A symbol of unity

The Risen Lord not only unites his disciples but also brings them together in order that they may work on a particular task that is assigned to them. The Risen Lord cooks for those he loves, gives nourishment, and encouragement and continues to call in the face of weakness and failings. They listen to the promptings of the spirit and get to work as quickly as possible. Therefore listening to the spirit is very essential in our Christian life. 

Reading the signs of the times and responding to them with an open heart, mind and soul are considered as the prophetic steps that one must take. Our spiritual life is guided, moulded and shaped by the inner experience of God. A person who does not have an experience of God deep within is unable to live an authentic Christian faith. If we do not listen to the promptings of the spirit then we may not be doing justice to our vocation as Christians. 

2. Risen Jesus: Proclamation to the entire universe

Perhaps we can draw some insights from today’s gospel John 21:1–19. The gospel passage does not give us any questions raised by the disciples of Jesus when they recognize him. Their recognition of Jesus puts them in a situation which gives them courage and strength to move ahead. The meal that the disciples have with Jesus with fish and bread may have had Eucharistic significance for early Christians, and Jesus uses the vocabulary of his action at the last supper. There is an explicit mention of the number of fish they caught them: ‘153’ - which probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles’ universal mission. St Jerome, the biblical scholar claims that Greek zoologists catalogued 153 species of fish. It can be also the symbol of nations where the gospel was to be preached. 

The net does not break. This could be a pointer to the unity that Jesus desired for his followers. When he spoke to the Jews during his ministry, they often split and divided. His church, like the garment without a seam for which the soldiers cast lots for, was to treasure its unity. 

3. Proclamation of the Risen Jesus happens through a leader

The disciples recognize Jesus before the breaking of the bread. By offering hospitality and welcome, Jesus is showing Peter, and us, that it is love that counts. Jesus gives his mission to Peter only after he had declared his love for him. In fact, Peter has to confess, atone for his earlier denials and has to give an example for those who would follow him in exercising responsibility for the Church of Christ.  Success or failure is secondary to the willingness to love.  Peter is rehabilitated and Jesus emphasizes his role in the Church. Earlier, Peter had denied Jesus three times and now as a counteract he makes thrice the confession. 

Moreover, the language used here is simple and straight. Jesus says to Peter ‘shepherd my flock’. He has to bring salvation to them just like his master Jesus. He would have to move away from his familiar trade of fishing to now ready and open himself to the grace of Jesus' spirit that would guide him toward abundance. He would be the principle of unity for the divided. He will have to know them by name, even ready to lay down his life for them. Moreover, Peter with all his inadequacies as a human person will have to steer the boat of Jesus. In the words of Thomas Merton, “A saint is not someone who is good, but someone who experiences the goodness of God.” Peter is not someone who is a complete person but he is the one who experiences the goodness of God tremendously. This incident marks a future, a future that will be relied on the experience that the disciples had of their Risen Master.

4. Risen Jesus meets in ordinary settings and circumstances

The Risen Lord meets people in their ordinary lives and awkward settings. He too meets us, visits us in the daily humdrum of our lives, in our emptiness, in our boredom, in our pains and sufferings, in our joys and happiness. Jesus empties his tomb in order to fill the lives of so many for whom he cared so much. The sadness and silence of the tomb turn out in Risen Jesus as a source of inspiration and vitality for the marooned disciples. They were ready to listen to the prompting of the spirit. Just like Peter when he recognizess Jesus jumps out of his boat in order to experience Risen Master closely, so we too should be ready to embark to meet Jesus. We should meet him in our encounters with others, in our families, neighbourhoods and in our workplaces, thus the peace of the Risen Lord flows from us. 

Perhaps we could conclude with the words of a prayer of Cardinal John Henry Newman which beautifully expresses what we have been saying: ‘Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life.  Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may be only a radiance of Yours.  Shine through me and be so in me that every person I come in contact with will feel your presence in me.  Let them look up and see, not only me, but also Jesus.’

Questions for reflections:

1. Jesus' hospitality is immense. Am I hospitable to those who are struggling and come to me looking for some help?
2. Peter is given the job of uniting everyone under his leadership. How do I present my role as leader or head in my family or community or parish or workplace?
3. How do I treat those who are under my care?
4. The Easter season invites us to reflect on our own relationship with Jesus. Do I truly love Jesus above everything else? 
5. Do our qualifications, positions and knowledge become an obstacle to our following God’s direction in our lives? 

Prayer:

Lord, you call us to be your guest so that you can feed us and give us strength. With the nourishment we receive, help us to go out, even to those places we would rather not go, that we might bring your invitation to all those we encounter.   

Help us Lord to become detached from all that blocks us from experiencing the grace of Jesus’ spirit in our lives and as we strive to think about and serve others. We make this prayer in Jesus' holy name, Amen. 

 - Olvin Veigas, SJ

29 April 2022