“It is the Lord!”
The readings for this Sunday, the Third Sunday of Easter, all point to a single theme: obedience to God, even in the face of dishonor. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostles are being told by the religious authorities to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. Peter's response could not be more clear: "We must obey God rather than men." When the authorities continue to demand they stop, we are told that the Apostles leave, "rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name [of Jesus]."
In the Gospel reading we have another example of obedience to God. After Jesus' resurrection, Peter and other disciples are out fishing. Suddenly, Jesus appears and performs a familiar act, inviting them in the midst of a poor fishing trip to "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." When it happens, John immediately recognizes Jesus, saying, "It is the Lord!" In this moment, when professional fisherman are coached by a perceived stranger in how to catch fish, these men indeed suffer a bit of dishonor, but are joyful to have suffered it in obedience to Jesus when they recognize it is him.
Following this, Jesus has breakfast with the Apostles and has the famous scene where he asks Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Peter, of course, answers with "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." After the third ask, when we are told "Peter was distressed that Jesus had [asked] him a third time" he responds with, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." The Church has consistently recognized in this story the "healing" of Peter's dishonor of denying Christ three times during his Passion. And through this moment, Jesus returns Peter to his place of leadership, asking him to "Feed my sheep" and even predicts Peter's martyrdom, which comes about through his obedience.
In our own lives, there indeed may be moments of dishonor and hardship because of our obedience to the faith. But the example of the Apostles and Jesus himself show us that, even in moments of dishonor, God can and does bring about great things. So, let us pray this week that our pride may lessen and our minds and hearts become more like our Lord's, whose own experience of being "dishonored" in obedience to his Father's will in the Passion led to the resurrection and transformation of the entire world!
Want to prepare your heart and mind for Mass this weekend? Click here to find the readings this Sunday's Mass.