Sunday, May 1st, 2022 – III Easter Sunday - Cycle C Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41, Psalm 30 “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me ”, Revelations 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14

    My dear friends, Jesus desires to ignite the faith of disciples and to restore their hope that his plan for them is still in place. At the call of Peter in Lk 5:1-11, he realized his unworthiness at the catch of fish, but Christ told him that he will be a fisher of men. This was a new life for him. Peter was privileged not just to be one of the twelve disciples but one of the three that formed the inner circle of Jesus (together with James and John). At the transfiguration, the healing of the daughter of Jairus, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter promised that he will even lay down his life for the Lord. But he denied him three times.
    Today’s gospels help us to understand that this was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples. But before this third appearance, Peter had reached a point where he felt like quitting. But Christ came and gave him three opportunities to renew his love and commitment to him.
     My dear friends, in life, there are many things and experiences that can happen to us that will make us want to quit. Sickness, persecution, betrayal, temptation, fall, trial, repeated failure or sin. But we encounter a God who assures us that he is a God of new opportunity and grace.
     Probably, earlier Peter had made the promise to die for the Lord, based on his own power and effort, but he recognized his weakness and inabilities and therefore his need to trust in the Lord who called him. Follow me. Know that the plans of God for you are still in place. The bible tells us that weeping may last a whole night but joy comes in the morning. Because we serve a living God, a loving and compassionate God. He calls you to follow, trust and give him praise even with your present situation. We celebrate Christ in his Word and in the Eucharist. We celebrate the Easter Good News, which transforms us, gives us hope, joy, love, unity, a sense of direction in carrying on the mission of the risen Lord in the world. May the Risen Lord fill us with Easter joy and hope.
Amen.
Father Paschal Chester