By: By Tim Irwin

Third Sunday of Easter, April 14

Acts of the Apostles 5:27-32,40b-41; Psalm 30:2,4,5-6,11-12,13; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

We are born with a sense of ourselves as separate and distinct beings. This sense we call the ego. Because of original sin, we believe that we will find the happiness that we crave by aggrandizing the ego. The readings for the Third Sunday of Easter concern the struggle to die to the influence of the ego and rise into the eternal happiness of Christ.

In the first reading, the Apostles are hauled before the Sanhedrin and ordered to stop speaking about Christ crucified and risen. “So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” Suffering dishonor expresses the feelings that arise when we take a good hard hit to the ego typically leading to anger or resentment, but the Apostles rejoiced. Their relationship with Jesus meant that they understood where real human happiness will be found.

The second reading says, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.” It begs the question why is the Lamb worthy? The Lamb is God who created us to be happy and then when we tried to find happiness without Him, redeemed us. Understanding this seems as easy as living it seems difficult.

The struggle of being a disciple of Christ comes from dying to the ego-centered self and rising into Jesus-centered self. We are called to become our better more Christ-like self in this life and our best most Christ-like self in eternity. So, how do we become more Christ-like?

“DO YOU LOVE ME?”
The Gospel explains. Simon Peter and six other apostles went fishing. After a long night, they had nothing but empty nets to show for their efforts. Jesus calls from the shore, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” Despite not recognizing Him, they comply. The nets are brought to the surface teeming with fish. “So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.'”

“When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.” Jesus invites them to have breakfast.

After the meal, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Three times Peter answers, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” After each response Jesus instructs Peter to care for the faithful. Jesus is asking Peter to become more Christ-like and do what Jesus does — feed and tend His followers.

Jesus tells Peter that this will not be an ego-aggrandizing experience: “‘Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ He said this signifying by what kind of death (Peter) would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, ‘Follow me.'”

The readings for the third Sunday of Easter lay out the process. Trust in God’s providence and the Father will reveal His Son to us. Fall in love with Jesus and we will become our better more Christ-like self today. Express our love of Christ by loving others in His name and our love will deepen. Abandon an ego-centered life as Simon Peter did and we will become our best, most Christ-like selves in eternity.

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TIM IRWIN teaches at Peoria Notre Dame High School, where he chairs the Theology Department. He is a member of St. Mark’s Parish in Peoria.