“Jesus Joins Us in Our Daily Lives “
On this third Sunday of Easter, the Scriptures present Christ in various facets: in the Gospel according to Saint John, he is the one who draws near to his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, helping them after a fruitless night of fishing (John 21:1-19). He is the same Christ who, in the second reading, receives the adoration of angels and elders in heaven (Revelation 5:11-14). Finally, he is the one to whom the Apostles bear witness in the first reading before the Jewish authorities (Acts 5:27-41).
Although he was resurrected, Jesus was still perceived as a threatening figure by the religious elite of Jerusalem to the point that teaching in his name was forbidden, and his disciples were arrested. However, the Church of the Apostles, strengthened by the Holy Spirit received at Pentecost, resolutely affirmed its identity and fidelity to the Gospel. The Apostles performed astonishing acts in the name of Jesus, baptized, and healed, with the conviction that there is no other name by which we must be saved. Brought before the Sanhedrin for having violated the prohibition against preaching the word of Jesus Christ, they justified their act by their obedience to God. The religious authorities, suspicious of the declarations of Peter and his companions, were exasperated, and they considered putting them to death, but the intervention of Gamaliel saved them temporarily. Indeed, Gamaliel’s speech, warning his contemporaries against their hostility towards the disciples, invites us to reflect on our own attitude towards those who claim to be from God. Thus, persecution, far from weakening the faith of the apostles, becomes an opportunity for witness and unity through the Holy Spirit.
In the second reading (Rev 5:11-14), John’s vision presents the recognition of God’s sovereignty in a universal praise to Christ, where all creation unites to glorify God and the Lamb. It is a vision that reveals the divine dignity and saving power of Jesus, He who is worshipped by the angels and the elders. From now on, our Christian journey is marked by the presence of the Risen One in our lives. If we follow His commandments and acknowledge His presence, our efforts will bear fruit in abundance. Familiarity with Christ is essential to transform our difficulties into joy and lead us to the eternal feast. The example of the Apostles invites us to consider our faith as an act of obedience to God and to courageously witness to Jesus Christ, animated by the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel according to Saint John recounts the third apparition of the Risen One on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, where He joins Peter and other disciples after a fruitless night. It was during fishing that Christ had chosen Peter as an apostle. The Gospel takes us back to the place where everything had begun in Peter’s vocation to confirm not only his mission as a fisher of men, but also, and above all from that moment, his mission as shepherd of the Lord’s sheep. Likewise, Jesus joins us in our daily lives to transform our “fruitless catches” into “abundant catches,” our dissatisfactions, our despair, and our ruins into hope. However, we must follow His instructions and obey His word as Peter did.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may grant us, in familiarity with Him, the strength for personal and collective commitment, and a heart attentive to His word, a lamp for our feet and a light on our path. Amen.
Sr Fidèle NGO MBOG
Bembéréké Community – Benin
Vicariate of Saint François Coll
