HOMILY 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER 2025
GONE FISHING WHILE JESUS APPEARS AGAIN – AT A BEACH BARBEQUE!
PETER GETS A FRONT LINE GUERNSEY AS CHIEF SHEPHERD
Jn 21.1-19 AA 5.27-32,40-41 Rev/Apoc 5.11-14
As the memories of Pope Francis remain in our thoughts, it’s time to look forward, as the cardinals prepare to meet for the Conclave, the film of the same name, having been timely, whatever about its apparently weird conclusion. I confess I’ve yet to see it, but not for lack of wanting to. Time has just got away yet again.
Life goes on, whatever, as I recall being ordained ‘popeless’, in August 1978, the week before Pope John Paul I was elected, and going further back, in 1959, when in Prep, I clearly recall the death of Pope Pius XII, and the parish priest (who had been PP of Essendon in giving us a day off school! No such powers exist these days!
As I have mentioned before, there is a now famous picture of Pope Francis in 2013, with a lamb around his shoulders, as an image of being a good shepherd, in the way of Jesus. It was a symbol of his love and care for all of God’s people, and that included all of the world’s people, not just Catholics. I use it again this week, as it fits so well with today’s theme, of shepherding God’s people.
On Saturday last week, there was an extraordinary gathering in St Peter’s Square, to farewell Pope Francis, with 92 year old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re the homilist. Interestingly, and appropriately, the last part of today’s Gospel had been chosen, as it focusses on Jesus reinforcing and commissioning Peter as leader of the early Christian community.
And so, it’s worth a further reflection this weekend on the life and work of Jorge Bergoglio SJ, as our Church leader for the past 12 years. (Video?)
Cardinal Re spoke of the legacy of Francis, in the way he touched so many minds and hearts throughout the world, far beyond just the Catholic scene. And he spoke of “the final image we have of him, which will remain etched in our memory… that of Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis, despite his serious health problems, wanted to give us his blessing from the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica. He then came down to the Square to greet the large crowd gathered for the Easter Mass, while riding in the open-top Popemobile. Despite his frailty and suffering toward the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life. He followed in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd, who loved his sheep to the point of giving his life for them. And he did so with strength and serenity, close to his flock, the Church of God, mindful of the words of Jesus quoted by the Apostle Paul: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’”.
He continued: “He was a Pope among the people with an open heart toward everyone. He was also a Pope attentive to signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church… He had a great spontaneity and an informal way of addressing everyone, even those far from the Church. Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties the sufferings and the hopes of this time of globalisation. He gave of himself by comforting and encouraging us with a message capable of reaching people’s hearts in a direct and immediate way. His charisma of welcome and listening, combined with a manner of behaviour, in keeping with today’s sensitivities, touched hearts and sought to reawaken moral and spiritual sensibilities… Mercy and joy of the Gospel are two key words for Pope Francis… ‘Build bridges, not walls’ was an exhortation he repeated many times, and his service of faith, as Successor of the Apostle Peter, was always linked with the service of humanity in all its dimensions.”
He concludes with a simple prayer to Francis, asking him “for a final embrace with all the people of God, but also (to) embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope.”
Now, the longer addendum to John’s Gospel is what we hear today, with the initially failed fishing expedition, leading to obeying the advice of the yet unrecognized Jesus, followed by the 153 fish catch (who was counting them??), and then the fish barbeque, another shared meal, of which Jesus often partook, with friends and others, without discrimination, throughout his public ministry.
Then, the finale is the direct encounter of Peter with Jesus and the 3 fold commission to look after and feed his sheep. Significant, too, is Peter’s angst and frustration, at being asked 3 times if he loved Jesus, but also countering his earlier 3 times denial of even knowing Jesus, when the heat was on, and he withdrew into the darkness in fear, wimping out, following Jesus’ arrest.
As for the number of fish, it has been suggested that this was the number of types of fish in the Sea of Galilee at the time, but more likely, Brendan Byrne SJ suggests, it signifies the diversity of humanity, with the thought that it could have been “a reflection of an ancient belief that the sum total of separate nations in the world amounted to 153.”!! The fundamental fact is that this is an inclusive Gospel, where all are welcome.
Our first reading today continues telling us about Peter and John in Acts of the Apostles, calling people to faith in Jesus and to be baptized as his followers. Like Jesus, they were already copping flak from the religious leaders, who couldn’t do much to stop them continuing their mission of preaching and healing, even if only uneducated laymen, as John puts it. The path of discipleship was never easy or simple. Despite the continuing opposition of the Jewish religious authorities, the mission continued, and the early Christian communities grew and diversified as time went on.
Now, as we look at the global scene, Christianity is the largest denomination in the world at 2.4 billion (31% of the world’s population) with 1.4 billion Catholics. (Islam comes second with 23% and Hindu third with 15%). So, it has to be said, despite the persecutions, unfortunate tangling or enmeshment of Church and State over the centuries, along with poor leadership at times, the Gospel of Jesus continues to be proclaimed and practised, with living faith and enthusiasm.
So it’s up to you and me to continue the mission at the grass roots level, as we do our best to live the Gospel as good news in our lives and lead by example, shepherding others along the way, inspired by the way Pope Francis faithfully lived the Gospel throughout his life in his ministry, particularly as chief shepherd, Pope number 266! Now we await number 267!
john hannon May the force be with you!! 4th May 2025