April 14, 2013: 3rd Sunday of Easter C
We love hearing words of encouragement, and they especially get us going when things seems grey. Take this short saying for example: “God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.” I chatted with a mother this past weekend whose beloved daughter died from skin cancer at the young age of 28. There were prayer vigils for the daughter at churches and schools as the cancer was ravaging her body. The daughter died peacefully early last year. No doubt there was struggle inside this mother’s heart as to why God allowed her daughter to die so young.
Tremendous loss like that can disrupt one’s faith and hope. Some of us here have been through a loss like that and have had our faith shaken. Our experience of grieving and loss gives us insight in today’s gospel as to what Peter experienced. Peter’s heart was heavy after Jesus’ death. The rock on which Jesus promised to build his church denied him three times. He also didn’t have the courage to be at Calvary with Blessed Mother, Mary Magdalene, and John. Shame and guilt were lingering in his heart even after Jesus’ resurrection. I wonder if Peter heard in his mind over and over, ‘I’m weak, cowardly, and unreliable. I can’t be trusted. I can’t even keep a promise.’ Peter decided to leave Jerusalem and return to his home district of Galilee, very likely so he could resume his fishing career. Peter was discouraged, and he went back to his previous career out of despair and uncertainty. Some of the other apostles followed him back to Galilee.
Yet Jesus did not write off Peter. He didn’t even demote him. Instead, Jesus was waiting for him in Galilee. After the miraculous catch of fish, Jesus spent personal time with Peter. Jesus said to Simon Peter..."Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because Jesus said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" ...he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." Each time we come to church, Jesus is waiting for us, just like he waited for Peter. Jesus already knows the challenges and personal failures that we experienced that week. He doesn’t fuss at us for failure. Rather, he reaffirms his love for us. Then he asks us to renew our love for him, “Do you love me?” And he renews his confidence in us by again asking us to be Heavenly Father’s love in action. “Feed my sheep.” What a great mystery, that God has confidence in us! God entrusts us with responsibilities because He trusts us! As the saying goes, “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”
When I met the mother this past weekend, she said she could not be more grateful to God for the 28 years of life that God had given the daughter to the family. The daughter has given her mother plenty signs that she is still actively involved with her family and friends’ lives on earth. A 5K running race which was organized in her honor to raise the awareness of skin cancer was one of the big signs; there were over 500 participants and almost 100 volunteers. A year has past since her daughter’s death, and since then this mother has spent a lot of time in the church and adoration chapel seeking comfort and consolation. Through her prayer, she encountered the Lord who asked her, “Do you love me?” Her trust was weak at times, but she was reminded of Jesus’ unfailing confidence in her. Do you run to the Lord when you meet setbacks, disappointments, and trials? The Lord Jesus is always ready to renew us in faith and to give us fresh hope in his promises.
Tremendous loss like that can disrupt one’s faith and hope. Some of us here have been through a loss like that and have had our faith shaken. Our experience of grieving and loss gives us insight in today’s gospel as to what Peter experienced. Peter’s heart was heavy after Jesus’ death. The rock on which Jesus promised to build his church denied him three times. He also didn’t have the courage to be at Calvary with Blessed Mother, Mary Magdalene, and John. Shame and guilt were lingering in his heart even after Jesus’ resurrection. I wonder if Peter heard in his mind over and over, ‘I’m weak, cowardly, and unreliable. I can’t be trusted. I can’t even keep a promise.’ Peter decided to leave Jerusalem and return to his home district of Galilee, very likely so he could resume his fishing career. Peter was discouraged, and he went back to his previous career out of despair and uncertainty. Some of the other apostles followed him back to Galilee.
Yet Jesus did not write off Peter. He didn’t even demote him. Instead, Jesus was waiting for him in Galilee. After the miraculous catch of fish, Jesus spent personal time with Peter. Jesus said to Simon Peter..."Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because Jesus said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" ...he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." Each time we come to church, Jesus is waiting for us, just like he waited for Peter. Jesus already knows the challenges and personal failures that we experienced that week. He doesn’t fuss at us for failure. Rather, he reaffirms his love for us. Then he asks us to renew our love for him, “Do you love me?” And he renews his confidence in us by again asking us to be Heavenly Father’s love in action. “Feed my sheep.” What a great mystery, that God has confidence in us! God entrusts us with responsibilities because He trusts us! As the saying goes, “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”
When I met the mother this past weekend, she said she could not be more grateful to God for the 28 years of life that God had given the daughter to the family. The daughter has given her mother plenty signs that she is still actively involved with her family and friends’ lives on earth. A 5K running race which was organized in her honor to raise the awareness of skin cancer was one of the big signs; there were over 500 participants and almost 100 volunteers. A year has past since her daughter’s death, and since then this mother has spent a lot of time in the church and adoration chapel seeking comfort and consolation. Through her prayer, she encountered the Lord who asked her, “Do you love me?” Her trust was weak at times, but she was reminded of Jesus’ unfailing confidence in her. Do you run to the Lord when you meet setbacks, disappointments, and trials? The Lord Jesus is always ready to renew us in faith and to give us fresh hope in his promises.
