april 18, 2010 third sunday of easter - St. Pius X Parish

Third Sunday of Easter — April 18, 2010
The Great Fifty Days
Follow Me ~ Call and Witness
The Easter Season Scriptures at a Glance:
During the Easter Season, the Acts of the Apostles replaces the usual Hebrew
Scriptures (Old Testament) for the First Reading. Acts is the “history” of the
early Church from Saint Luke.
First (Acts of the Apostles) Scripture: Acts 5: 27-32, 40b - 41
As the apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin, they give witness to Jesus
without fear. They are told once more not to speak the name of Jesus and they
are dismissed. They rejoice in his name.
The Second (Revelation) Scripture: Revelations 5: 11-14
John declares the glory of Jesus, the Lamb of God, for worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory
and blessing.
The (Good News) Gospel: John 21: 1-19
The disciples are welcomed on the shore by the Risen Christ. They cast their
nets on the right side at his suggestion and finally have a catch. John
recognizes Jesus and Peter jumps into the water to get to the nearby shore.
Jesus invites them to have breakfast, both bread and fish. He then speaks to
Simon Peter asking him three times, "Do you love me?" As he has denied him three times, he now professes his love three times and
is commissioned to feed his lambs and to tend his sheep. Jesus predicts Peter's ultimate death.
Breaking Open the Easter Word:
The impact of the resurrection on the disciples unfolds with his many appearances to the Apostles, to the women, and to others. He
clearly chooses Peter from among the Apostles to feed his sheep. His threefold denial has given way to a threefold affirmation of his
love and faith. The meal of the bread and fish evokes the multiplication of the loaves and the fish and the miracle that is the
Eucharist. Jesus both feeds and calls his disciples through Peter to feed his lambs, his sheep. As witnesses to the name of Jesus after
Pentecost, the Spirit-filled Disciples will neither be fearful nor silenced as they proclaim Jesus as the Lamb that was slain to receive
power and glory.
Some Easter Season Reflections by Father Tom:
As we celebrate these Fifty Days of Easter, we are challenged to look into our lives in light of our Lenten Journey, and to ask
ourselves how we have strengthened in the practices of our faith. Like Peter, we are called to see our own denials and like Peter to
see things in a new light through our increasing love for Jesus. Have we really changed for the better or have the old habits just
begun to creep back into our lives? Have we really come to love Christ more deeply or have the "changes" in our lives been shortlived
and superficial?
Discipleship calls for continuing growth and struggle. We have the graces that we need to grow in discipleship through the
power of Jesus Christ, yet we must continue the ongoing struggle to deepen in our faith and in our commitment to Christ cooperating
with his grace. Like Peter, Jesus calls us and like Peter, our response must be to witness to the faith fearlessly and in the Spirit. We
are to give witness both as individuals and as a Catholic Community, by inviting others to "come home" through our example,
through our words of welcome, and through our deeds of love and caring concern for others. This is the joy of Easter, to celebrate
life and love in Christ with one another and to reach out to all with the love of Christ, which gathers us together.
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