Vol. 37 No. 28          APRIL  18,  2010            Cycle C 3rd  SUNDAY  OF  EASTER                         Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Let all the earth cry out to God with joy; praise the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise, alleluia. PENITENTIAL RITE “Follow me” is the command of Jesus addressed to every Christian and this following would mean surrendering ourselves to Jesus and letting him act in and through our life. The more we are reluctant to follow Jesus, the more we remain in darkness, away from the light of Christ. This situation does not allow us to recognize Jesus and we fail to enjoy his gift of peace and joy. Hence, let us ask ourselves: am I really following the Lord in my life the way I live my Christian life? (Pause) I confess… Glory to God.... OPENING  PRAYER God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored the joy of our youth. We ask this... FIRST READING (St Peter confronts his audience with the truth about the choice they have made: “We must obey God rather than men.”) A reading from the Acts of the Apostles     (5:27-32,40-41) The high priest questioned the apostles, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” They charged the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name. This is the Word of the Lord   PSALM      (29) Response: I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me. I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me and have not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead, restored me to life from those who sink into the grave. R./ Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him, give thanks to his holy name. His anger lasts but a moment; his favour through life. At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn. R./ The Lord listened and had pity. The Lord came to my help. For me you have changed my mourning into dancing, O Lord, my God, I will thank you for ever. R./ SECOND  READING (In this vision, St John sees Christ under the image of a Lamb that was slain but is now the centre of worship and adoration of angels and men.) A reading from the Book of the Apocalypse     (5:11-14)    I, John, looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped. This is the Word of the Lord ACCLAMATION    (Lk 24:32) Alleluia, alleluia! Lord Jesus, open to us the scriptures. Make our hearts burn within us while you talk to us. Alleluia! GOSPEL (The promise that Peter would be the foundation, the source of strength and unity, in the new Christian community, was made factual on the occasion described here by John.) A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John    (21:1-19) Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as the day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answeed him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.” This is the Gospel of the Lord I believe.... PRAYER  OF  THE  FAITHFUL Cel:  Dear brothers and sisters, the risen Lord is always at work, inspiring and strengthening his Church. Let us ask him to make all his disciples powerful witnesses of the Kingdom of God, praying: Response: Father, send forth your Spirit that we may recognize the risen Lord. 1. That our Pope, bishops, priests, religious and catechists may recognize and experience the risen Lord in their lives and become good shepherds of their flock. R./ 2. That our Christian Community may always participate in the Eucharistic celebration with proper interior disposition and genuine faith in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. R./ 3. That the leaders of our country may dedicate themselves to fulfil their responsibilities and exercise their mandate in the most fitting manner by striving to establish equality, peace and justice in society. R./ 4. That we may be kind and forgiving towards all those who disappoint or fail us, just as the Lord had been kind to us. R./ 5. That all of us gathered here may recognize the risen Lord in our lives and accept the invitation to follow him to be his witnesses in the world. R./ (Pray for local and personal needs) Cel:  Father in heaven, we thank you for giving us Jesus our Saviour. Grant us your Holy Spirit that we may give ourselves to you through Jesus Christ who is Lord for ever and ever. PRAYER  OVER  THE  GIFTS Lord, receive these gifts from your Church. May the great love you give us come to perfection in heaven. We ask... PREFACE      (22) Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season, when Christ became our paschal sacrifice. He has made us children of the light, rising to new and everlasting life. He has opened the gates of heaven to receive his faithful people. His death is our ransom from death; his resurrection is our rising to life. The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world, while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory: All: Holy, holy, holy… COMMUNION ANTIPHON Jesus said to his disciples: come and eat. And he took the bread, and gave it to them. Alleluia. PRAYER  AFTER  COMMUNION Lord, look on your people with kindness and by these Easter mysteries bring us to the glory of the resurrection. We ask this…       LITURGY  AND  LIFE   In today’s Gospel, St John presents to us yet another encounter of the risen Lord with his disciples who were toiling all through the night at the sea of Tiberias, to catch fish. The disciples are back to the sea, perhaps to resume their original profession as they now seemed confused, afraid and lost. They were once assured by their Master and Lord that he would make them fishers of men but the situation is different now as he is brutally killed. But the appearance of Jesus to them, turns their lives upside down for good and they learn the hard fact that if the Master is absent from their lives, they catch nothing in spite of the hard labour and extra time they put in. In this encounter with his disciples, Jesus reiterates that a disciple is called to be always with the Master and to “follow” him even in his apparent absence. When Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?” Peter professes his undying love for Jesus. After the assurance of Peter of his “rock-like love” for him, Jesus commissions Peter to follow him and feed his sheep. The proof of love for Jesus undoubtedly is to leave everything and follow him unconditionally. Discipleship is not a question of our own doing; it is a matter of making room for Jesus so that he can live in us. The love of a disciple for Jesus is neither emotional nor sentimental. The love Jesus demands of us is a self-sacrificing love that may well lead us even where we do not want to go. When the disciples dared to cast the net off to the starboard side at the request of Jesus, they had the “catch” of their life. This life changing “catch” made Peter, who in the earlier life realized his sinfulness and unworthiness, to leave everything that he had, and jump overboard because he knew “it was the Lord”. Peter’s unhesitating jump to Jesus reaffirms and professes his love for his Master. It is almost mysterious to observe that though the catch was great, the net was not torn. This incredible act of Jesus, tells his followers loud and clear that the mission of Jesus will not “fall apart”. The disciples, who dare to cast the net as directed by their Master, will not only catch the fish in abundance but also will come to know and experience the maker of fish. Following Jesus is not the same as any other following. The following that Jesus demands from his disciples is a choice, a radical choice, one that is not always praised, supported, celebrated or appreciated. In this following, Jesus becomes for the follower, the centre, source and the fulfilment. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life that each follower should walk, proclaim and live. It is in this rootedness in Jesus Christ one realizes oneself and becomes part of the one who called. Let us be reminded that when Peter relied on his own strength, he made a fool of himself but when he relied on the Lord, he became the rock on which Jesus built his Church. It is not enough merely to recognize the risen Lord or to say repeatedly “you know that I love you”. We must follow him and live him. Peter and the early disciples did this. Peter had the courage to affirm before the Sanhedrin (First Reading), what he had denied previously. This is the love Peter manifested in the concreteness of continuing Jesus’ Mission, even in the face of adversaries. Thus he was “found worthy”.  —Fr Johnson Vattakkunnel, ssp     ========================================================   April 2010      READINGS  OF  THE  WEEK          Psalter Week  3  19   Mon (W)     Act 6:8-15; Ps 118:23-24,26-27,29-30; Jn 6:22-29 20  Tue (W)      Act 7:51-8:1a; Ps 30:3-4, 6ab&7b,8a,17&21ab; Jn 6:30-35 21   Wed (W)   Act 8:1b-8, Ps 65:1-3a,4-5,6-7a; Jn 6:35-40 22   Thu (W)    Act 8:26-40; Ps 65:8-9,16-17,20; Jn 6:44-51 23   Fri (W)     Act 9:1-20; Ps 116:1,2; Jn 6:52-59 24   Sat (W)   Act 9:31-42; Ps 115:12-13,14-15,16-17; Jn 6:60-69