May 4, 2025
3rd Sunday
Easter
FOCUS: Jesus intercedes for us.
As fallen human beings, we are weak and prone to sin. And yet Jesus sends us into the world, even as the Father sent him. How can we possibly be faithful to such a high calling? By ourselves, this is impossible. But Jesus intercedes for us; he obtains the strength for us to persevere and forgiveness for us when we fall.
What's in Your Heart
The disciples find themselves at a crossroad: They must strengthen their witness and attend to the business of gathering more souls for the Kingdom, but they must do it against the strict commands of local authority. They choose their faith over the law and following Jesus over falling back into their old routines.
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What difficult choices must you make between your faith and the laws of church or state? Remember Peter’s steadfast fidelity to Christ as you determine your course of action.
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A slain lamb is hardly an inspiring symbol. How do you find power in Jesus’ suffering and death? How can you find hope in your own weakness and vulnerability?
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The image of food, feast, and feeding abound in today’s gospel. Think of your fondest memories around food and the ways you are best nourished in your life.
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Homily Stories
In my neighborhood there is a sad reminder of what damage we cause nature. A building is up for sale. It had not long ago been a thriving fishery and restaurant located on the bend of the Chicago River. Its boats docked there and went out daily to catch the perch that the fishery processed. The restaurant served the best fried perch in the city. But overfishing, pollution, and the introduction of predator species not native to Lake Michigan have taken their toll. Then the state of Illinois declared a moratorium on perch fishing, and the business was doomed. So much for the saying, “There’s always more fish in the sea.”
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Today’s wonderful gospel about 153 large fish being caught and the net not being torn foretells of numbers beyond counting that one day would hear the message of the disciples about the death and Resurrection of Jesus, a message they were brave enough to preach in front of the religious leaders who were threatening them.
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How would all the new disciples be “caught”? The message that would hook them and that catches us today is the challenge to care for one another and in doing so reflect our love of God. It is a message that would be covered with the blood of go fismartyrs from the beginning until today. It is a message of sharing in the risks, wisdom, and strength of the slain lamb, Jesus, who will feed all who join with him. There are many we need to bring to Jesus. The sea is still teeming with fish to be caught.
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