The readings this week focus on the infancy of our Church. The Jewish leaders have again brought the apostles before the high priest and they are warned, again, to stop teaching in the name of Jesus and stop telling people that the Jewish leaders killed Jesus. Peter and the apostles cannot do anything but what is in obedience to God and so they cannot quit teaching in Jesus’ name. The leaders beat the apostles and sent them away telling them to stop teaching. The apostles were very happy because they were found worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus and they bore this with courage and strong faith in God and the will of God.
The apostles were also faced with other growing pains of our infant Church. Like our church today, there were not enough apostles, or priests, to attend to everyone who was in need. Therefore it was put on the Christians at large to identify those in need and to make sure that they are cared for rather than complain that the apostles aren’t doing enough for everyone. This worked very well, and still does when we, as Christians and disciples of Christ Jesus, take on as our personal responsibility the welfare of our brothers and sisters throughout the world and help where we see a need and according to our ability.
The Gospel according to John recounts the events surrounding a disappointing day of fishing for the apostles. Our Lord, Jesus, from the shore instructs them to put their nets down on the right side of the boat and they do so and catch so many fish they cannot haul the nets up! They join Jesus on shore and share a meal of bread and fish together cooked over a charcoal fire. Then Jesus has a most interesting chat with Peter, our first Pope. He asks him three times, “Peter, do you love me?” and each time Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you!” Three times. Why does Jesus ask Peter THREE times if he loves him? For the THREE TIMES that Peter denied Him during the Passion of our Lord. Remember? At the Last Supper Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed he would deny him three times, and he did exactly that, and fell upon the feet of our Blessed Lady pleading, “Mother, what have I done?” A charcoal fire is mentioned one other place in the Gospel: in the high priest’s courtyard where Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter is redeemed in this Gospel passage, and forgiven for his weakness of the past and becomes our fist Pope. Peter did not lack for courage again. It is important for us to have courage and faith strong enough to allow us to stand firm in our faith when those around us are against us. God is with us, that is what the name of Jesus means. God with us. If He is with us, whom should we fear?
The Psalm tomorrow is Psalm 30: I Will Praise You, Lord, For You Have Rescued Me This link will take you to Matt’s site where there is a link to the music demo and the lead sheet for the music.
Have a blessed week! Contemplate your courage and faith and if you find it lacking appeal to our heavenly Mother, Mary, as Peter did, for her gifts of faith and courage and love of Jesus! No one can love a son better than a mother, so the Blessed Virgin Mary can teach you how to love Jesus in her perfect way! Above all remember that God is with us, always; all things serve the will of God; God’s ways are always way above our ways.
In Christ, through Mary,
Elaine