Sharing of life: For the rest of the Easter Season, your sharing of life question will be: Share any "moment of grace" you experienced since you last met. A moment of grace is any touch of God's presence in your life. For example: Experiencing God in the beauty of nature, a particular phone call could be a moment of grace, an encounter with a homeless person, a prayer time, reaching out to someone or someone reaching out to you.
Facilitator reads focus statement: Peter, who is reinstated as leader of the Church (in the Gospel), is fearless in his witness to Christ in the first reading. In the second reading, we are taken to a heavenly realm, where the Risen Lamb, carrying the marks of his passion, is praised by heavenly and earthly voices.
Consider reading the commentary after you read each reading if you have not read it prior to your meeting.
FIRST READING: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
In today's first reading, we notice a rising tension between the Jewish authorities and the disciples of Jesus. It is a struggle between light and darkness as in Jesus' time. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles will not be silenced. Peter, the former coward and "denier" now becomes a courageous proclaimer. The Apostles are full of joy that they were found worthy of ill treatment for the sake of Jesus. Jesus' resurrection is always central to their witness. We may not be dragged before a court of law to defend our commitment to Jesus, but each of us stands daily before the court of Public Opinion to give an account of our faith life.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 30
This is a prayer for deliverance from earthly tribulation.
SECOND READING Revelations 5:11-14
The second reading takes us to a heavenly realm where there is a victory celebration taking place for Jesus, the victorious Lamb who has returned home to heaven and to God having conquered sin and death. Seven great possessions of the victorious Lamb are mentioned: power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing.
In the Eucharistic celebration, we sing of the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Our earthly liturgies seek to pattern themselves after the heavenly liturgy described here. Both seek to give fitting honor and praise to the Lamb of God.
GOSPEL: John 21:1-19
Today's Gospel is another resurrection story. Two scenes are woven together: the miraculous catch of fish, which ends with Jesus feeding the disciples; the questioning of Peter, which ends with his being commissioned to feed God's flock. A constant feature of the resurrection stories is that Jesus is not recognized at once. It takes some word or familiar gesture for him to be known. This is how the evangelists let us know that the Risen Christ has taken on a new form. He is the same Jesus, yet transformed. He is not as he was, but he is still who he was.
The miraculous catch symbolizes the mission of the Apostles and the central role of Jesus in the mission. They are called to be "catchers of people," but only if they rely on Jesus. The 153 fish represent every type of fish. The church welcomes and offers salvation to all who are open to the message of Christ. Then in a gesture of humble service, Jesus prepares a meal for his disciples. He is the one who provides nourishment (Eucharist) for us.
In the second scene, we have reinstatement of Peter as leader of the new church. He who denied Jesus three times is now given three chances to profess his love. He is then given the mandate to care for and feed the flock of Christ. In giving authority to the one who denied him, Jesus wanted to show that he was establishing his church, not on human strength, but on his own love and faithfulness. Finally, Jesus tells Peter that his "yes" to him will lead him into conflict with the authorities.
FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS
1. What verse, image or idea spoke to you in the readings? Why?
2. In the first reading, Peter says "Better for us to obey God than men." How might we, or others deny God today? Have you ever had the experience where you felt obedience to God meant being disobedient to the church?
3. How have your grown in your ability to overcome fear of rejection or shyness in witnessing to Christ or standing up for some teaching of the church?
4. What does the image 'Lamb of God' mean to you?
5. What are the ways that your parish feeds God's flock? How could it do a better job? (If you come up with some good practical suggestions, consider sharing them with your parish leadership.)
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
What one thing can you do to act on a message in these readings? Suggestion: Come up with a plan of action on how you can "catch" someone for Christ.
CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION
Pray for all who are persecuted for their religious beliefs. Pray that we become bolder in our proclamation of our Catholic faith. Pray for all who make a living through fishing. ©