Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter

Homily delivered by Fr Nicholas King SJ

Scripture readings: Acts 2:27-41; Apocalypse 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

How do we know that it is true? Here we are, deep in the Easter season and proclaiming the resurrection which is the heart of our faith; and how do we know it is true? If that is how you are feeling, what you might do is listen to the confident joy that comes out of today’s readings.

One thing we could do is to watch those apostles, who in the first reading are all under arrest for disobeying the Sanhedrin’s command not to talk about Jesus. We notice perhaps, the authorities’ refusal even to mention the name of Jesus: “that name” and “this man” is how they call him. Contrast that with the robust integrity of Peter’s response; if you remember, it’s not long since Peter was absolutely denying that he had ever heard of Jesus; now he’s saying, “we have to obey God, and not human beings”. You see, God is in the story and in the ancient proclamation of our faith. Then Peter goes on to say, with great courage, that “the God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you people hung on a tree”. And he insists that “we are witnesses, we and the Holy Spirit” – so it is undeniable, what they claim. Then the apostles are (unjustly) flogged and set free, and, remarkably, they rejoice at “having been found worthy to be dishonoured on behalf of the name”. We do not need to be told that they are not going to be stopped from “teaching and giving the good news”. We are impressed, and gaze admiringly at their courage, which is itself part of the evidence for the truth of our gospel.

There is joy here, therefore, and we hear that confident joy also in the psalm, a song of thanksgiving for someone who has been delivered from Death; it is a confident and joyful song, and it reaches a happy climax, “Lord my God, I shall thank you forever “.

Then in the second reading, we are invited to take joyful confidence from listening to the heavenly liturgy, “the sound of many angels around the Throne and the living creatures and the elders; and their number was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands upon thousands”. Then we think of the music of Handel’s Messiah, as we listen to them singing, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom…”. There is no room for doubt here, as the four living creatures cry, “Amen”, while the elders “fell down and worshipped”. I hope that you are feeling here some of the confidence of that post-resurrection church; which is your joyful confidence, not just theirs.

There is confidence, too, in the gospel reading, the extraordinary ending of Johns Gospel. When it starts, there doesn’t seem to be much confidence, because Simon Peter announces his intention of going fishing, which looks like a joyless return to their old ways. However, just like us today perhaps, they meet Jesus without recognising him. But then everything suddenly changes, because in response to his orders, they take a huge catch of 153 fish, and the Beloved Disciple identifies who the stranger is: “It is the Lord!”.

Now watch what Peter does: as soon as he hears “it is the Lord “, he behaves very oddly indeed; he puts on his clothes (he had been working naked, apparently) in order to dive into the sea, even though we immediately discover that it was not very far to the shore; Peter was trying to show his joy and confidence, and perhaps also his love for Jesus. And you may remember that it was Peter who originally suggested the fishing project, but now it was the other disciples who were bringing the catch ashore.

The other thing that we might remember now is that not many days ago Peter had denied three times that he had ever heard of Jesus; now, after breakfast, to which the disciples have contributed their little offering, he may have been feeling a bit uncomfortable at the memory. And the discomfort perhaps continues as Jesus, without mentioning Peters cowardice, asks those three questions about love, “do you love me?”. Peter (and we) are then invited to prove it by looking after the flock; Peter is grieved by this, but then it gets worse, as the manner of his death is predicted: “Someone else is going to bind you up and carry you where you do not want to go “. After that, Jesus invites Simon Peter to “follow me”; the gospel does not tell us, perhaps we do not need to be told, how Peter responded, but we can surely hope that it was a response of confident joy, like all the rest of today’s readings.

What is your response to be this week and today?