May 01, 2022; Third Sunday of Easter (Year C)

Readings: Acts 5:27-32; Rv. 5:11-14; Jn. 21:1-19

 

The Lord Always Provides

1.      I am convinced that Christ rose from the dead. The Catechism states: "Christ's resurrection is the fulfillment of the promises, both of the Old Testament and of Jesus Himself during his earthly life. The resurrection of the crucified one shows that He is truly 'I Am,' the Son of God and God Himself. Christ's resurrection is closely linked to the Incarnation of God's Son and is its fulfillment in accordance with God's eternal plan." (CCC nos. 652, 653). St. Paul said it better, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith"(1Cor 15:13-14). On that first Easter Sunday, Peter and his companions experienced the risen Christ as they never expected, which changed their lives. The spirit of the risen Lord emboldened Peter to stand up to the Sanhedrin and accuse them of being responsible for Christ's death. "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God had given to those who obey Him." (First reading). A few days ago, this same Peter could not stand up to a young girl and admit that he knew Jesus.

 

2.      Peter was a fascinating person, in my opinion, which endeared him to Jesus – the crass humanity of Peter. And this also makes the person of Peter appealing to us too. We can identify quickly with him. Peter was impetuous! Now he confessed the divinity of Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Mt. 16:16); soon after, he tried to prevent Jesus from accepting the will of His father, to which he was reprimanded by Christ to "get behind me Satan." Yet, there was an undeniable friendship between Jesus and Peter. Their friendship was so strong that just a look from Jesus communicated to Peter that he had betrayed that friendship and hurt their relationship. According to William J. Bausch in 'Story Telling the Word, "The scene of two men in a silent confrontation in the palace courtyard tells us the real meaning of Christianity. When you come right down to it, it is a living relationship with a living Person. It is always and forever the relationship of redeemed human beings with the person of Jesus Christ in faith, trust, forgiveness, and love – in all the ways that one person is bound to another."

 

3.      In today's Gospel, Peter returns to his trade: fishing. By saying "I am going fishing," could mean that he was returning to the profession he was good at, or he was simply bored and needed to distract himself from the thought of having betrayed his friend and the constant reminder of the look of Jesus. If he was not adept at fishing, how would he be a fisher of men! Unfortunately, Peter, in my opinion, was not very good at fishing either. His first encounter with Jesus was when he was at his duty post trying to catch fish. To the request of Jesus to "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch," his answer was, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets." (Lk. 5:5). Their second encounter was when Jesus met Peter and his companions during the fishing expedition and enquired: "Children, have you caught anything yet?" "No." He said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat, and you will find something." (Jn. 21:3-6). When they caught so many fish, John exclaimed: "It is the Lord." How could they, who did not catch anything throughout the night, be so lucky just because a stranger had told them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat? John recalled their last encounter with Jesus when they had worked all night long and caught nothing and how Christ had told them what to do before they had their boats filled with fish. It had to be the Lord. Christ showed Peter and his companions that they could do nothing apart from him. He (Christ) was better at Peter's trade than Peter; hence he should learn another business with the help of the master himself. Many times, we think we know it all. We often keep God out of our lives. But Christ tells us, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." God provides us with the strength, energy, and wisdom to do all that we do and succeed in them.

 

4.      Whenever we run away from God, he comes in search of us. "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain." (Jn. 15:16). Unworthy as we are, God chose us as he did the prophets of old and the Apostles. When we sin, he waits for us to turn back to Him confessing our sins and he is always willing to forgive us. He shows us the father's love in the Story of the prodigal son (Lk 15). He demonstrates his forgiveness in the Story of the woman caught committing adultery (Jn. 8). He reached out to Peter at the sea of Tiberias; caring, cooking a meal for his friends, providing fish for their upkeep; he gave them encouragement and hope and offered them forgiveness and love. He does the same for us. Yes, it is the Lord; he is the only one who appears when all hope is gone, he refreshes us when water is dried up, and the rain refuses to fall. The Lord brings healing and strength to our failing bodies and restores us to wholeness when we are sick. 

 

5.      Jesus knew Peter more than Peter knew himself. He knew Peter loved him, but he wanted Peter to say so himself. After all, he had told Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers." (Lk. 22:31-32). Christ knew that Satan had his eye on Peter. He knew that Peter would deny him at the moment of weakness; therefore, Christ was back to make it right. And so, he asked him three times, ‘do you love me.’ “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Peter was right! Christ knew everything; he knew Peter loved him.

 

6.      So, we pray that we may not forget that the Lord always stands at our shores, loving, instructing, watching, and looking out for us. He has a meal prepared for us. May we not forget our relationship with him when tempted to run away from the Lord. May we have the courage to say with Peter, Lord, you know everything, you know we love you. Please pray for us as you prayed for Peter that our faith might not fail, strengthen us at the moment of our weakness so that we may not betray you. Help us to see the look of love in your eyes so that we may weep for our sins and turn back to you. Amen. 

   

                                             Augustine Etemma Inwang MSP

April 17, 2022; Easter Sunday (Year C)

Readings: Acts 10:44, 37-43; Col. 3:1-4; Lk. 24:1-12

 

Christ’s Resurrection is Our Life

1.      On this day of the resurrection, we recall the words of Jesus: “That he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” (Mt.16:21). It was strange to the apostles then, but now they believe him. Christ has indeed risen. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that: “To be a witness of Christ is to be a “witness to his Resurrection,” to “have eaten and drunk with him after he rose from the dead.” Encounters with the risen Christ characterize the Christian hope of resurrection. We shall rise like Christ, with him, and through him.”(CCC. 995). God will raise our mortal bodies and make them like his own in glory when we die. 

 

2.      The resurrection of Christ demonstrates that we are Easter people living in a Good Friday world. The activity of Good Friday is still very much with us. We are broken and weak, short-tempered, stubborn, and angry; we backbite and betray our friends. The resurrection of Christ assures us that God loves us and that Christ has conquered our weaknesses and death. Yes, to every Good Friday, there is Easter Sunday. To every failure, there is strength in the risen Lord. Every hurt and wrongdoing we forgive is proof of the resurrection. We attest to our faith in the risen Lord when we give to charity or console the bereaved, show compassion and mercy, visit the sick, be kind to the downtrodden. We may be weak, but our risen Lord is strong. We are Easter people and so must sing alleluia to God. According to St. Paul, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1). Because He lives, we can see him tomorrow! “He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him to bring all things into subjection to himself.” (Philippians 3:21). The resurrection changed the apostles; it can also change us if we believe in Christ. The resurrection of Christ is an invitation for us to share in his life. Let us rejoice that Christ is risen. Amen

 

                                    Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

April 10, 2022; Palm Sunday (Year C)

Readings: Is. 50:4-7; Phil. 2:6-11; Lk. 22:14-23:56

 

Holy Week at A Glance

1.      Today is Palm Sunday. Let us look at Holy Week at a glance and all the activities that go with it before the resurrection of Christ. Palm Sunday was a joyful and triumphant day as well as a disturbing and tumultuous one for Christ. On this day Jesus was given a red-carpet reception as he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Palm branches were used to welcome royalties in the olden days, even today in some cultures. “The palm branch symbolizes victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and the Mediterranean world. So, Christ was received as a victorious king in Jerusalem with fanfare. He did not ride on a horse, a prestigious symbol of war but on a donkey, indicative of peace and humility, the trademark of the king of peace. It was not just any donkey, but one on which no one had ever sat, the prerogative of a king. Seeing Him on the donkey, the Jews surging around Him recalled the words of the Prophet Zechariah 500 years earlier: “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you; a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem.” (Zec. 9:9-10). Pope Benedict XVI explained these Old Testament words as they relate to Jesus: “He is a king who destroys the weapons of war, a king of peace and a king of simplicity, a king of the poor.… Jesus is not building on violence; he is not instigating a military revolt against Rome” (‘Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week,’ Ignatius Press, 2011, pp. 81-82). People came out to receive king Jesus crying Hosanna to the Son of David. 

 

2.      The passion narrative demonstrates people playing different roles in their relationship with Jesus. Judas Iscariot betrayed him; Peter denied him while the other apostles ran away. Many in the crowd said different things about Jesus. Many other reactions and vituperations trailed him on the road to Calvary. False witnesses rose up against him, the scribes and the Pharisees called for his head. Pilate did not just condemn him to painful torture and death on the Cross, he humiliated him first by having him flogged. Women cried for him, and some men despised him. Soldiers ridiculed him, and bystanders mocked him. Holy Week was a painful one for Jesus, who suffered for our sake. Palm branches are thrown away, and Hosanna to the Son of David is replaced with “away with him, crucify him.” Yet Jesus rode to Jerusalem with love in his heart and prayer for forgiveness on his lips for his torturers. No wonder St. Paul reminded us: “For our sake he (God) made him to be sin who did not know sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor. 5:21). Yes, “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (second reading). “Greater love than this no man has,” he tells us, “That a man should lay down his life for his friends.”(Jn. 15:13). But even within that hostile crowd, there were many acts of kindness shown to Jesus. Simon assisted Christ to carry the Cross. Veronica wiped his face. Women of Jerusalem wept for him. One of the soldiers offered him wine, albeit vinegar, when he was thirsty. His mother and other women were there at the foot of the Cross; Joseph of Arimathea offered his new tomb for his burial. What would you have done for him if you were there? You can still do it for him even now. For “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt. 25:40) Which character best describes you and your relationship with Jesus? Are you with Jesus or against him?        

 

3.      After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Christ gathered his apostles for a parting meal, the first Eucharist, and the institution of the sacred priesthood. This was a demonstration of brotherly love and the giving of a new commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn. 13:13) The celebration takes place on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the last supper. On Good Friday we venerate the Cross of our salvation. Jesus tells us “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw everyone to myself.” (Jn. 12:32) “O Cross of Christ, immortal tree, on which our Savior died, the world is sheltered by your arms that bore the Crucified.”(Lenten Hymn). On Holy Saturday, we wait at the tomb of Jesus in anticipation of Easter Sunday when we will celebrate the resurrection of Christ. “O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!” (Exultet). Are we ready to reciprocate Christ’s love by committing ourselves to this week of grace? Let us be grateful to Christ for his love. As we celebrate Palm Sunday today, may we look forward with joy to celebrating Christ’s resurrection and our freedom from sin and death. Amen!

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP