Can we love God unselfishly?”
A homily from the Third Sunday of Easter based on readings from
Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41, Psalm 30, Revelation 5:11-14, and John 21:1019.
These readings are available at the USCCB website.
Today we have a very interesting gospel reading. It becomes even more profound as we better understand it. It has three really outstanding points, especially if you are a Galilean fisherman who speaks Greek. I realize that there is a chance that a few of you here today don’t fish, … or speak Greek. First, I’ll revisit our gospel reading to offer a few explanatory notes and then we’ll dig into its message.
I am going fishing
I like the line in our gospel this morning when Peter says, “I am going fishing.” You do not have a be Galilean to understand that, but it helps to remember that Peter was not a recreational fisherman. He has spent three years following Jesus. Jesus has told him that he has been selected by God the Father for leadership. He has commanded him to strengthen the other apostles.
And then they killed Jesus. And he watched them do it.
Then, he saw the empty tomb. He saw the resurrected Jesus.
With all this going on, he calmly states, “I am going fishing.” He is returning to his old life. He may even be giving up on his calling.
Fishing in daylight
He fishes all night. They still do that in Galilee. The fisherman go out at sunset and return at dawn. The fishing is somehow better after dark. Maybe the fish have more difficulty seeing the nets. If indeed, Peter is returning to his old life, he doesn’t get a solid “welcome back”. He comes up empty. He catches nothing.
So when the person on the beach tells him to drop his nets near the shore during the daylight, every professional fishing instinct he had must have been saying, “No! Are you kidding me?” Yet something tells him to follow the stranger’s request. Remember, he doesn’t recognize that he is talking with the risen Lord just yet. The result is amazing! At that moment, they recognize that it is Jesus and Peter, ever impulsive, jumps overboard and swims in to meet him.
The charcoal fire – do you love me?
And then he sees the charcoal fire. I wonder what he thought when he saw it. The last time the Gospel According to John mentioned a charcoal fire it was in the high priest’s courtyard.
It was where Peter, instead of defending our Lord, denied him – three times. And yet in this very similar setting, Jesus allows Peter to participate in his own redemption, but this is a very hard conversation. This is where the Greek comes in.
You see, in Greek there are several words that we translate as “love”, and two of them are used in the exchange between Jeus and Peter. Let me paraphrase. At first Jesus asks, Simon, son of John do you love me more than with a deep self-giving love. Peter replies, “Yes, Lord, I love you like a brother.” Peter’s yes was not quite a yes. I think Peter now knew his limitations having so recently failed our Lord. After reminding him to that he still had a leadership role to play (“Feed my sheep”), he gives him one more try. He asks the same question and gets the same answer. “Do you love me? – yes, but like a brother”. Then comes the third question from Jesus, “Do you love me like a brother?” Frustrated, Peter replies, “Yes, Lord you know that I do!”[1]
Three times now, Peter has professed his honest love for our Lord just as three times he denied him. He honestly tells the Lord of his shortcomings. Remember, he holds back from agreeing that he is capable yet of that self-sacrificial love that our Lord seeks, but he loves him as he can. Our Lord, in his last question, meets him where he is when he asks, “Do you love me like a brother?”
It is a wonderfully deep story, especially if we can look at it through the eyes of the apostles, but can we use it in our daily lives? You know the answer is yes.
Leaving our old way of life
When we feel tired or distressed, when we have our “Lets’ go fishing” moments, let’ s not turn away from God toward our old lives, but rather look toward God to guide us.
Do we fish in daylight?
Let’s look to God to show us where to set our nets for that amazing catch. Even if it seems as impossible as fishing in daylight when everyone knows that nighttime is the only time for fishing, let’s pray earnestly, listen carefully, and follow where he and his church lead us.
Do we love him?
Let us always work toward answering God’s question, “Do you love me unselfishly?” with a resounding yes! Even if we can’t say that today, maybe with prayer and spiritual work we can say that tomorrow or the next day. Remember, that the Lord will help us and equip us to do whatever he asks of us.
Let us each leave our old ways behind and strive to love God with everything he has giving us – with our whole selves!
“Let us leave our old ways behind and let us be willing to love God with our whole hearts and do the truly amazing!”
[1] The actual phrases in transliterated Greek follow: 1st query: Simōn Iōannou agapas me pleon toutōn. 1st reply: Nai kyrie sy oidas hoti philō se. 2nd query: Simōn Iōannou agapas me. 2nd reply: Nai kyrios sy oida hoti phileō sy. 3rd query: Simōn Iōannou phileis me. 3rd reply: Sy ginōskeis hoti philō se.