3rd Sunday of Easter "Going Fishing"

   

Audio Podcast: Homily 3rd Sunday of Easter

The readings this weekend have the common theme of the lamb, who was slain and those who would suffer for Jesus, the Lamb of God.

In the first reading, the court officers brought the apostles in and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin and the high priest, who questioned them and reminded them they had strict orders to not to preach in the name of Jesus. He said, “Yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood on us”. Peter and the apostles boldly replied, “We must obey God and not man. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had Him killed by hanging Him on a tree.” The apostles reminded the Sanhedrin, the court officers and chief priest that they were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. The Sanhedrin ordered them to once again stop preaching in the name of Jesus, and the Apostles rejoiced in having to be found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of His name.

The second reading speaks about a vision John the Apostle saw of heaven. He saw and heard many angels who surrounded the throne of God as well as the living creatures and elders singing in unison, “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.” We know that Jesus is the “Lamb who was slain” on the cross. And now at Mass, we join the angels and saints in singing and praising the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice becomes present here on the altar.

In the Gospel today, we have a resurrection appearance of Jesus, that occurred several weeks after Jesus rose from the dead. You may recall on Easter Sunday, He appeared to the Apostles in the upper Room, while St. Thomas was absent. Then after Jesus departed and Thomas returned, he did not believe the other apostles and said he would need to touch the nail marks in His hands and side to believe. But the following Sunday, He appeared again to the Apostles and this time Thomas was present. Thomas then touched the wounds in His hands and side and he believed.

Peter and some of the Apostles didn’t know what to do since Jesus had risen from the dead, so they decided to do what they were familiar with, to go fishing. After all, Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen by trade before following Jesus. After fishing all night long, they caught nothing. But when Jesus appeared to them on the shore, He told them to cast their nets off the right side of the boat, but fishermen normally would never cast their nets off the right side. It was not a good technique when fishing. They didn’t recognize Jesus, but threw the nets off the side of the boat resulting in catching 153 large fish. They obviously counted each fish to know how many they had caught.

I would like to pause for a moment and tell you a fishing story. On my senior class’s Skip Day, I caught the largest fish I ever caught without a fishing pole or even a fishing net. The Skip Day was approved by parents and the school and seniors would pick a getaway place to go to have fun. My class decided to go camping and fishing at Cedar Bluff Reservoir, near Wakeeny in western Kansas. In Kansas most people use a fishing pole when they go fishing. But in the time of Jesus, fishing business owners used large nets to throw off the side of the boat to catch a good number of fish at one time. On the Senior Skip Day, I never brought a fishing pole or a net. A friend and I decided to walk along the shore of the lake and there right in front of us was a large dead fish in the water. I took the fish out of the water. We surmised the fish recently died by getting hit by a boat. We brought the large fish to the dam store and I told a fish tale. I told the owner I had caught the fish. He weighed and measured it, and said it was the largest fish “caught” that year so far at Cedar Bluff Reservoir in May of 1981. So its true, I caught a fish without a fishing pole and without a net, but it was easy to “catch” since it was already dead. To be a good Christian, we always need to tell the truth even when it comes to fishing stories. The point is, the apostles were telling the truth, when they said they caught 153 large fish and were not tell a fishing tale. In fact, it was a miracle, because Jesus placed the fish in the spot where He told them to cast their nets.

Now back to the Gospel, once on shore, Jesus had prepared some baked fish, He cooked on a charcoal fire. After eating breakfast with them, Our Lord asked Peter the same question three times, “Peter, Do you love me?” But why would Jesus ask Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Jesus wanted to give Peter the opportunity to make up for the three times Peter denied Him. At the Last Supper, Peter had told Jesus, “I will die for you?” But Jesus said, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

I am not a Greek scholar, but I had several Greek classes. I was told the first two times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” He used a Greek word for love that meant, “Brotherly love”, which is sacrificial love such as a brother loves another brother or as a husband sacrificially loves his wife. But the third time Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” The Greek word for “love” was changed, not to mean “brotherly love”, but “unconditional love”, which means to be willing to die for Jesus. It would go something like this the first two times Jesus asked Peter, “Peter, do you love me as a brother and friend?” “Peter, do you love me as a brother and friend?” And then the third time, it would be as though Jesus, said, “Do you love me unconditionally, to even lay down your life for me?” This would have cut Peter to the heart, because at the Last Supper he told Jesus, “I will die for you.”, but then the same night denied knowing Him three times. Our Lord told Peter to feed His lambs, to tend His sheep, meaning Peter would be the chief shepherd of God’s flock, the lambs by feeding them with the Eucharist and sound doctrine.

Just as Jesus was the Good Shepherd and lamb who was slain, so Peter would also be the shepherd of the Church and lamb that was slain. Our Divine Lord then revealed that Peter indeed would die for Him, as He said, to Peter, “Amen, Amen I say to you, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go”, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.”

34 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, in the year 67 AD a great persecution broke out in the city of Rome. Its believed the Emperor Nero’s men purposely set houses on fire to blame the Christians. And if Christians were caught by the Romans, they would be crucified on the outskirts of the city to cause fear among them. Most Christians fled Rome in great numbers but some stayed. Peter fled and when he was outside of the city, Jesus appeared to him carrying a cross. Peter asked Jesus, “Quo Vadis Domine?” “Where are you going Lord?” And Jesus responded, “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” Peter realized he was abandoning the Christians who remained in Rome, so he returned to Rome and was captured. Peter was crucified upside down, because he said he was not worthy to be crucified in the same manner of Jesus. Peter was crucified on Vatican Hill, which today it believed to be the exact spot St. Peter’s Basilica was built.

This fulfilled the words of Jesus, who said, “Amen, Amen I say to you, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.” He would stretch out his hands on the cross. Peter first pope was martyred.

Popes, bishops, priests and lay faithful have suffered and died for Jesus through the centuries. In fact, 29 popes would be martyred and 8 popes were murdered. The reason why cardinals wear a red hat, is because its a reminder, one should be willing have their blood spilled for the Church. In England the bishops, the priests and the people had to sign an oath of fidelity to the King of England, who declared himself head of the church and if they refused, they would be killed. Most bishops and priests signed it, but some bishops and priests didn’t including Bishops Thomas More and John Fischer and the priest St. Edmond Campion, refused to sign it and martyred for the faith.

In conclusion, I would like to tell you, I have a gift for you. Its a symbol of the early Christians. I will give you a hint. Its not the Willie Wanka chocolate bar. It’s not a gold ticket that will get you entry into the chocolate factory. But the item inside can take you to a new and beautiful place, a paradise. But you must be willing to do all that is asked of you. To avoid sin, to practice your faith. To embrace difficulties. To be faithful to Jesus. The enclosed gift, if you use it properly, will give you wisdom in making decisions, hope when you are sad, comfort in difficulties, to help you forgive when you are hurt, to be sorry when you done something wrong, and it will be sweeter than any candy the “Candy Man” can give. The item in this bag will help you to love as Jesus loved. He said, “There is no greater love, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”, which is what Peter, many popes, bishops, priests and lay people did as martyrs. I will give you one more hint, what is in this bag is what Christians through the centuries cherished so much, they were willing to die for it, and it would be there ticket to heaven.

During this month of May, let us daily pray the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask Her to help us to always be faithful to Jesus and when we get to heaven, we will see the lamb who was slain and sing with the angels and saints and the Virgin Mary, “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”

Click image or link for Song: "Going Fishing, Not Just A Wishing"

 

April 29th - St. Catherine of Siena

 

 “Love one another, as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” In a very special way St. Catherine of Siena, whose memorial we celebrate today, loved her neighbor, by laying down her life, for her friends. She laid down her life spiritually, as she was persecuted by her family, took vows of a Dominican tertiary and so, did severe mortifications and penance for the conversion of sinners, worked with the poor and sick, courageously wrote letters and visited with kings, priests, cardinals and popes to draw them closer to Christ, and to help them to do God’s will. All her life, she willingly suffered spiritually and physically for the sake of Christ, her spouse.

Catherine’s mother, whose name was Lapa, had 25 children. Catherine was the youngest. As a little girl, while going up or down the stairs, she would kneel on each step and recite a Hail Mary. When six years old, on her way back from seeing her older sister, she stopped in her tracks staring towards the sky. She beheld Our Lord seated in glory with St. Peter, St. Paul and St. John. Our Savior smiled upon her. He extended His hand to bless her and from that moment on Catherine was entirely His.

As a child, Catherine cared about prayer and solitude, only mingling with other children in order to share her devotion. When she was 12, her parents urged her to devote more care to her personal appearance, and so to please her mother, she had her hair dressed up, and was decked out in the latest fashion, but soon discontinued. Even though, her parents sought a husband for her, she said she would never marry, and so cut off her golden brown hair. The family persecuted her by continuously scolding her, and forcing her to do menial work, day and night. Because she loved privacy, her parents would not allow her to be alone. She bore all these trials with patience. Later in her writings called “The Dialogue”, she said that God had taught her to build in her soul, a refuge in which she could dwell peacefully that no tribulation could ever disturb her. Her father realized it was useless and permitted her, to do as she desired. She kept her small room shuttered, dimly lit, gave herself to fasting and prayer, took the discipline, and slept on boards. She received the habit of a Dominican tertiary and increased her mortifications. She had celestial visions and consolations, but also was subject to fierce trials. She had the most degrading temptations, while loathsome figures enticed her. She passed through long intervals of desolation, in which God seemed to have abandoned her.

On Shrove Tuesday in 1366, during a carnival in Sienna, while praying in her room, our Savior appeared to her, with His Blessed Mother, and a crowd of heavenly host. Taking Catherine’s hand, Our Lady held it up to Her Son, who placed a ring upon it, and espoused Catherine to Himself. The ring remained visible to her, but invisible to others. The spiritual betrothal ended her years of solitude, and she went out seeking the salvation of others. She nursed many, and brought about many conversions in hospitals. She took cases, which were most difficult and repulsive. Her exterior life in no way interfered with her union with Jesus.

Often in church, and especially after receiving Holy Communion, she would be rapt in ecstasy. And while in prayer, she was seen levitating. Her friends and followers would call her “mama” and she frequently read their thoughts and knew their temptations. While many thought her a saint, others, even from her own order, thought she was a hypocrite.

As a plague broke out, she continued to care for all, and buried them herself. She also visited prisons, and helped those to be executed to make their peace with God.

Once while praying in the church of St. Christina, while looking at a crucifix, suddenly, five blood rays came forth, which pierced her hands, feet, and heart, causing acute pain. The wounds were visible to her alone, but after her death, became visible.

She often spoke with familiarity, to kings, bishops, cardinals and popes. For example, she called Pope Gregory XI, “my sweet baboo”. She appealed to the pope to begin a crusade to free the Holy Sepulcher, from the Turks, and convinced the pope, who had been living in Avignon to return to Rome. And under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, she dictated a book called “The Dialogues of St. Catherine”.

Even though she suffered long from an illness, her emancipated face, always had a smiling expression and so she suffered joyfully. She had a stroke in 1380, and died 8 days later at the age of 33. She was canonized in 1461 and proclaimed a doctor of the Church in 1970.

Although her life was filled with many mystical experiences, she was a down to earth woman, lived a holy life, laying down her life, for the sake of others, and so loved others as Jesus loved her. “O St. Catherine, angelic virgin, mystic of the incarnate word, you who loved Jesus and Mary with all your heart, help us too lay down our life for our brothers and sisters. Help us to love Jesus and Mary, as you, and teach us to pray, that we too may become saints.”

April 28th - St. Louis de Montfort

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Louis Marie De Monfort. Born in France in 1673, he was the oldest of 8 children. During his college days, he became aware of his call to the priesthood. At the end of his ordinary schooling, he began his studies of philosophy and theology. During that time, he enjoyed listening to stories from a local priest, about a missionary priest, who would go from city to city preaching. And then decided he wanted to be a missionary priest, who would do likewise, by going about preaching from city to city.

Five months after his ordination to the priesthood, in November 1700, he wrote: "I am continually asking in my prayers for a poor and small company of good priests to preach missions and retreats under the standard and protection of the Blessed Virgin.”

This eventually led him to form a group of religious priests called, the Company of Mary. About the time he started the group of priests, he met Marie Louise Trichet, a young 19 yr. old woman who would co-found a women’s religious order called the Daughter’s of Wisdom. She and her sisters would serve the poor and sick for many years.

Frustrated with local bishops, who didn’t want him to preach in their diocese, he made a pilgrimage to Rome, to ask Pope Clement XI, what he should do. The Pope recognized his vocation and told him to go back to France to preach as an Apostolic Missionary.

For several years, he preached in missions from Brittany to Nantes, and his reputation as a great missionary grew. He became known as "the good Father from Montfort". At the city of Pontchateau, he attracted thousands of people to help him build of a huge replica of Calvary. This turned out to be one of his greatest disappointments. On the night before it was to be blessed, the Bishop, forbid the completed structure of Calvary to be blessed because the King of France did not want it to be built. On receiving this news, St. Louis told thousands of people who waited for the structure to be blessed, "We had hoped to build a Calvary here; let us build it in our hearts. Blessed be God."

As he continued to preach from town to town on devotion to Mary and the many sermons on the Holy Rosary, he converted thousands of people. His devotion to Mary was so great he added “Marie” to his middle name.

Pope John Paul II took his motto, “Totus Tuus”, from St. Louis De Montfort, who said we should belong totally to Jesus through Mary.

Once when he was traveling on a boat, he asked passengers, who were singing obscene songs, to join him in praying the rosary. Twice they made fun of him, but eventually they prayed the rosary with him on their knees, and listened to his sermon afterward.

Worn out by hard work and sickness, he finally came in April 1716 to Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre to begin the mission, which would be his last. During the mission, he became ill and died on April 28^th, 1716. He was 43 years old, and had been a priest for only 16 years. Thousands gathered for his burial in the parish church, and very quickly there were stories of miracles performed at his tomb.

During his life, he wrote several books on devotion to Mary and about the Rosary. They are True Devotion to Mary, the Secret of Mary and the Secret of the Rosary.

Today, let us remember to pray the Rosary every day, and pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary asking for Her favors, knowing that She is a good Mother, who will help us in all our needs. And if we have the opportunity, may also read some of St. Louis De Montfort’s books so, that we may come to know more about Mary and truly love Her as we ought.