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[_v.7_] Homily – May 4, 2025 / 3rd Sunday Easter ● Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41● Psalm 30 ● Revelation 5:11-14 ● John 21:1-19
Mercy, Mission, Calling [9:30 am]
Do you want to win, to be victorious? Regarding
our salvation and eternal life, “the Church teaches
that only God can save us. If that weren’t true, then Christ died for nothing.
All that we do is respond with faith and obedience to God’s offer of grace in
Christ. This is meant to be a lifelong commitment that grows over time, just as
love in marriage is NOT a one-time “I do” but grows over time.
While I also took vows as a priest,
my understanding of my own vows grows over time.
God’s grace grows within us as we trust in God
more and follow his commandments. The final outcome of a life of faith and
obedience is eternal life with God.” (https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/is-salvation-an-act-or-a-process)
Your salvation – my salvation – marked by the
victory of Jesus over sin and death, but God is still making this victory
happen in our lives, in our following of the Holy Spirit.
I’d like to share 2 “historical biblical”
notes about victory – about winning – from this Gospel.
1st. WATER -- The body of water for the disciples
in this scene is called the Sea of Tiberias, a place also known as the the Sea
of Galilee. So why the name “Tiberias”? It reflects the Roman rule of the time;
it’s a reminder that even geography was shaped by political power. There’s a
saying: “History is written by the victors.” Names change with those who are in
charge. Today, we know it again as the Sea of Galilee—reminding us that earthly
powers rise and fall, but the message of Jesus endures.
2nd. Name change for Peter.
During
Jesus’ own ministry there had been another significant name change. That is
Simon the Apostle was re-named the Rock – Petros – and upon this rock, I will
build my church.
This moment is deeply personal for Peter.
After all, Peter denied Jesus three times. What type of ROCK OF STABILITY was
he? Was Peter “victorious”?
There were times when Peter seems to be on
the losing side rather than on Jesus’ side, even getting in Jesus’ way.
Peter himself experienced this when he tried
to walk on water. He thought it was just about stepping out of the boat
imitation of a motion and mobility he could see, but it was more than this. In
fact, Peter never actually “walks on water” as Jesus did, but in more important
and invisible ways, allows Jesus into his hear in invisible ways and gains a
different type of mobility, a different type of victory.
We never know what we’re going to pull up
when we cast a net or go toward the invisible waters. That’s how life is. And
yet, we are called to trust—called to throw the net again, even after failure.
The Questions
Regarding
Peter, Jesus asks him 3 times, “Do you love me?”, (due to the 3x denial) Peter
is hurt. It stings to have your love questioned. But that sting leads to
growth. Healing often does. Jesus didn’t humiliate Peter—he was healing him.
Peter is not disqualified from leadership because he failed. In fact, he’s
chosen for leadership because he understands mercy. And Jesus gives him a task:
care for others. Be a shepherd.
This passage reminds us to pray for our
current Church leaders. In a few days, we will refer to the new Pope as the
individual who “won” the greatest number of votes, who was the winner of the
election.
But, Jesus’ emphasis – and I think you know –
this ..to win is to be a servant: “the greatest among you must be your
servant.” (Matthew ___). The last shall be first. The first shall be last. (Matthew ____)
The
pope is often referred to not as the successor of the previous pope, but as the
**Successor of Peter**. That lineage begins with this moment on the shore. And
so we pray for whoever leads the Church—that the next Holy Father, like Peter,
may be rooted in love and mercy, not pride or power.
Mercy is also not meant to be the lifejacket
when we are drowning but a real survival strategy. Mercy doesn’t mean
pretending something didn’t happen. Often, we want our sins or mistakes to just
be forgotten. But there’s something greater than being forgotten: being
forgiven. Forgiveness acknowledges the wound and then chooses healing. We might
still remember the wrong, but we let go of the resentment. We move forward.
Personal
reflection. Years ago, my brother wanted to win. We all
wanted him to win, to be victorious. He was
playing in a high school football championship. At a crucial moment, he fumbled
the ball—turned it over to the other team. It could have cost them the game.
But it didn’t. His team went on to win. Afterward, I stood on the field with
him and our parents. He said that I would have said if I had been in his shoes,
“If we had lost, I would’ve walked home.” But what stuck with me was how our
parents responded. They didn’t dwell on his mistake. They didn’t even promise
to walk home too seriously.
And
during the game, the coach didn’t bench him. In fact, the next time his team had
the ball, the coach gave it to him again. That act of trust made a lasting
impression. This was VICTORY.
Years later, I met this coach and told him
how powerful that moment was. He didn’t think it was a big deal—evidently he
had done this for other players. But to me, it was unforgettable. That’s mercy
in action. Not forgetting—but remembering, forgiving, and restoring. That is
winning.
Jesus does the same with Peter. He
doesn’t ignore his 3 x denial. He acknowledges it, forgives it, and trusts
Peter with a mission. Mercy gives us the chance to begin again.
Sometimes, like Peter, we get lost in
comparison—what others have, what others do. Pope Benedict XVI once warned of
the “dictatorship of relativism”—a world where we only value things in
comparison to others. But God’s love isn’t relative. His mercy isn’t given
based on how we compare to others. It’s absolute. It’s perfect. And it’s freely
given. We learn this first at home, in the family.
Each of us carries within a sense of what’s
good, what’s true, what’s perfect—not because we’ve seen enough examples, or
because I am the MVP or you are the most valuable player, but because we are made in the image of the
One who is perfect. As St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they
rest in You.” We are drawn to perfection because we are drawn to God.
That’s why mercy is essential. And one of the
most beautiful expressions of God’s mercy is the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
If you haven’t been to confession in a while, don’t be afraid. I’m happy to
walk you through the steps. Confessions are heard every Saturday at Our Lady of
Lourdes from 4:15 to 5:00 p.m., and by appointment at any time. Just call.
Today’s Gospel is not just Peter’s biography.
It is yours. It is mine. It’s the account of failure and redemption, of sorrow
and new beginnings, of being asked again: “Do you love me?” And like Peter, I
pray we can answer each time: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” This is
how allow God to win us over to his side, to his ways. [ the end]
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