Third Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Cassie

In John’s Gospel, Jesus performed His first sign at Cana in Galilee (2:11), and now He performs His last sign in Galilee, at the Sea of Tiberius, which is another name for the Sea of Galilee.  Just as in Cana, He had supplied a superabundance of wine for a wedding feast, so He now gives His disciples a great catch of fish.  From first to last Jesus loves us with superabundant love.

When they finish breakfast, Jesus questions Peter three times about his love.  Here Jesus is providing Peter the opportunity to reverse the three fold denial on the night before Jesus died.  A charcoal fire is only mentioned two times in John’s Gospel.  This charcoal fire with the fish and bread recalls the charcoal fire of the denial of Peter.

Jesus three times asked Peter if he loved Him.  That is also His constant question to us. Do we obey Him out of fear, or out of duty or out of love.  Peter’s service was to feed and tend the sheep of Jesus, as the leader of the Apostles.  Jesus also asks us to carry out our own forms of service.  There are many ways of feeding the flock of Jesus.

You and I are being asked by Jesus if we love Him.  Our Lord calls each of us to acknowledge our love for Him and give ourselves to full service of His flock by the way we live our lives.

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus looks at Peter, who has committed himself to the loving service of Jesus and His sheep.  Jesus then says to Peter the same invitation the Lord made to Him at the beginning of their work together.  Jesus says to Peter “follow me. “

At the end of our encounter with Jesus in this Gospel, He looks at us and also invites us to follow him. May God give us the grace to respond whole heartedly by how we live our life.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell

palm sunday

Posted on by Cassie

It is our tradition to read the Passion of Our Lord on Palm Sunday.  This year we use St. Luke’s Gospel to guide us.

In His Gospel, Luke emphasizes the personal relationship of Jesus with others, and describes His kindness, His tenderness.  For Luke, to know Jesus is to love Him.  This is evident in his Passion narrative.

Only Luke describes the following:

-After one of the disciples cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus stops and heals him then and there.

-After the Third denial, Peter breaks down and weeps.  In Luke’s account, this happens because “Jesus turned and looked at Peter.”

-On the way to the cross, Jesus stops and speaks to the women who are mourning and lamenting Him.

-Hanging on the cross, Jesus forgives his executioners.

-One of the criminals crucified next to Jesus addresses Him by His first name (with no titles- the only time in any Gospel).  The Good Thief says “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  Jesus responds: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

May we all live in such a way that Jesus will say these same words to each of us as we come to the end of our life.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell

 

fifth sunday of lent

Posted on by Cassie

The person on trial in today’s reading is not the woman, but Jesus.  A trap is set for him.  They try to make him choose between upholding the Mosaic law, which imposed a death penalty, and Roman Law, which reserved the death penalty to Rome itself.  Another interpretation would see Jesus being forced into condemning the woman, even though His mission was to bring mercy and not condemnation.

Despite a lot of speculation, we just do not know why Jesus wrote on the ground and what exactly he wrote.  What is clear is that those pressing for the death of the woman had no real interest in her.  They were out to get Jesus.  She was simply, a means of putting Jesus on the spot.

Jesus invites whomever was without sin to be the first to cast a stone.  That thins out the crowd to the point where Jesus is left alone with the woman.  Only then does anyone say anything to the woman.  Up until now, she has been merely an exhibit in Jesus’ trial.

But now Jesus speaks to her and grants her forgiveness.  He then talks her into leading a new life based on His forgiveness.  Jesus has not only preserved her life but given her the possibility of a different and better life.

You and I have been forgiven a great deal in our life.  In His love God has given each of us an opportunity to live a better life in relationship with Him.  May each of us respond to His forgiveness and live a better Christ-like life.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell