{"id":1803,"date":"2016-04-10T14:13:12","date_gmt":"2016-04-10T18:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=1803"},"modified":"2016-04-10T14:16:11","modified_gmt":"2016-04-10T18:16:11","slug":"3rd-sunday-of-easter-year-c-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/3rd-sunday-of-easter-year-c-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"

3rd<\/sup> Sunday of Easter, Year C<\/a>
\nActs of the Apostles 4:27-32, 40b-41
\nPsalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
\nRevelation 5:11-14
\nJohn 21:1-19
\nApril 10, 2016<\/p>\n

Last week we heard how Jesus appeared twice to his disciples after his Resurrection.\u00a0 Both of these appearances were inside.<\/p>\n

Apparently, while inspiring, those two appearances had not yet the disciples on their mission going forward.\u00a0 They appear still to be in distress all that has happened.<\/p>\n

In the midst of their distress, Peter announces he is going fishing.\u00a0 This is not some male way of getting away from the problem.\u00a0 Peter, and several of the others, were fishermen by trade.\u00a0 It was familiar to them and, if it was how they made their living, they must have been good at it.<\/p>\n

Well, they should have been good at it but apparently on this night they weren\u2019t.\u00a0 They caught nothing<\/em>.\u00a0 Why not?\u00a0 I suspect they weren\u2019t really thinking about fishing.\u00a0 Their minds and hearts were probably still thinking about Jesus.<\/p>\n

Here comes Jesus but they don\u2019t realize it is him. We don\u2019t know why they didn\u2019t recognize him.\u00a0 Likely, their distress was part of this.\u00a0 Jesus tells them to cast their nets over the right side of the boat.\u00a0 When they do, they catch a huge amount of fish.<\/p>\n

What was their purpose in fishing?\u00a0 The purpose of fishing can be seen in a basic human need.\u00a0 We need to eat.<\/p>\n

Jesus provides for their needs.\u00a0 They catch plenty when they do what Jesus\u2019 tells them.\u00a0 Lest one think, they just got lucky in a new spot with the fish, look at what they find when they get to the shore.\u00a0 Jesus is there with a fire going with fish and bread already on it.<\/p>\n

They hadn\u2019t brought the fish they caught to the shore yet.\u00a0 Where did Jesus get the fish He was grilling from?\u00a0 Where did the bread come from?<\/p>\n

Simple.\u00a0 Jesus provided what they needed.\u00a0 He provided them with food.\u00a0 What they saw was earthly food.<\/p>\n

Jesus is concerned with our need for physical food but Jesus is concerned with more.\u00a0 This was not the first time Jesus shared bread with his disciples nor would it be the last.<\/p>\n

Jesus celebrates a meal with bread for us every time we come for Mass but it is not just bread we receive.\u00a0 What we celebrate here is bread and wine that God transforms into the Body and Blood of Jesus for us.<\/p>\n

Do we recognize it for what it is?<\/p>\n

Remember how Jesus\u2019 disciples did not recognize him when He appeared on the shore?\u00a0 How many people today fail to recognize the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist?\u00a0 It is not just bread and wine.\u00a0 We can\u2019t see the change.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t look any different.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t taste any different.\u00a0 So in a world where science provides many answers, if it isn\u2019t proven, we don\u2019t often believe.\u00a0 We have lost the sense of the mystery of God.<\/p>\n

Having lost the sense of mystery, people don\u2019t come to church so much, if at all.\u00a0 Sometimes it might seem like we don\u2019t get much out of it.<\/p>\n

When our focus of coming to Mass is what do we get out of it, we are looking for what feels good.\u00a0 In the short term that might seem great but if we see it as a divine mystery, it isn\u2019t just about feeling good for a few minutes.\u00a0 It is about drawing us into a deeper relationship with God and praising God for the love He has shown to us.<\/p>\n

The Sacraments are given to us to celebrate the mystery of God.\u00a0 We use \u201cthings\u201d in the sacraments; water, oils, bread and wine.\u00a0 However, it is not about the things, it is about the grace offered in the sacrament.<\/p>\n

For the Eucharist, it is about the Body and Blood of Jesus.\u00a0 At our 10:30 Mass, we have eleven children who will be receiving the Eucharist for the first time.\u00a0 This will be a special moment for them.<\/p>\n

Do you remember your First Communion?\u00a0 How long ago was it?\u00a0 For our three people who received the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, it was just two weeks ago.\u00a0 For some, it has just been a year since the first time.\u00a0 For others here it has been over 80 years since the first time.<\/p>\n

How does the last time you received Communion compare to the first time?\u00a0 Have we become used to it?\u00a0 It can become routine to us but we must remember it is Jesus <\/em><\/strong>each and every time.\u00a0 We must come to Mass not just to feel good but to connect in a deep way with the mystery of God\u2019s grace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C Acts of the Apostles 4:27-32, 40b-41 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 April 10, 2016 Last week we heard how Jesus appeared twice to his disciples after his Resurrection.\u00a0 Both of these appearances were inside. Apparently, while inspiring, those two appearances had not yet the …<\/p>\n

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