May 04, 2025・3rd Sunday of Easter (C)

Acts 5.27b-32,40b-41・Psalm 30.2b+4 11+12 13・ Revelation 5.11-14・ John 21.1-19

We are again having the examples of the Apostles on how to live-out our faith with love and dedication. The Apostles have shown us their firmness of heart despite trials and dishonor which eventually led them to be considered worthy to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. “They rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of His name.” (Acts 5.41) A genuine disciple of Jesus is called to be courageous especially when the call to be so comes. A sharing somehow similar to the suffering of Jesus is sharing in His glory. In this perhaps the Apostles were courageous to live-out their faith in love. dedication and joy even if gospel proclamation entails suffering.

All that the Apostles did and so well experienced is a realization that it was not enough for them in their own lives just to be aware of the presence of the Risen Christ with them. Their realization of Jesus` presence and their joy led them to respond further by telling others of their “joy experience.” They can no longer go back to their boats and live for themselves alone.

The role of Peter and his companions, the same role of the Church at present, is coined with the words “feeding the sheep.” This responsibility can be live-out in varying degrees depending on everyone`s (each member of the Church`s) self-dedication and maybe prayer life or personal relationship with the Risen Christ.  It is (feeding the sheep) indeed the responsibility of the successor/s of Peter and all others who are given authority to officiate Sacraments in the Church. It is the same responsibility of parents and teachers for example of government and spiritual leaders and all of us as brothers and sisters for each other.  The thing indeed is of having a motivation or a drive to get out from self-centeredness and simply be generous as much as possible to people we meet. And having a motivation or a drive to “go out and meet people” in order to participate in the “feeding project of Jesus.”