Pastor's Letter 20220501 - 01 May 20 - Reaffirmation of our Faith

[Father Michael]

May 1^st, 2022

Third Sunday of Easter

†Peter’s faith is renewed!

A Message from Father ^†Michael

Today’s Theme:  “Reaffirmation of Faith” 

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

Luke’s writing highlights a constant paradox: faith brings joy, thanksgiving, praise of God for His wonderful works…and also…opposition and persecution, which serve to enhance this joy, thanksgiving and praise (Acts 5:27-41.)  The effectiveness of Christ’s mission is demonstrated even in opposition to it—its effectiveness is what counts.  Jesus told the apostles to expect persecution, and that prophecy was fulfilled to the letter, when they were brought before Jewish meetings, and suffered imprisonment.  Undeterred, they continued to bear witness to the power of the Spirit and the power of the Resurrection, in direct contradiction to the Sanhedrin’s warnings not to preach.

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Chapter 5 of †John’s Apocalypse depicts a transfer of power to the Lamb (the crucified and risen Christ,) in the form of a “sealed scroll,” which the Lamb, alone, has been found worthy to open (Revelation 5:11-14.)  The “One seated on the throne” is named frequently throughout this book—interpreted to be God, as King and Judge—as well as the “living creatures,” from Jewish tradition—four angels who direct the physical world, and symbolize the created universe (later suggestions that they are the “four evangelists” have long  been dismissed.)   

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Today’s Gospel (John 21:1-19,) is an appendix to the original, (having ended at 20:31,) and highlights the apostles’ mission—a great and abundant task, analogous to their great catch of “fish,” when they accepted Jesus’ help.   It presents an effective way of making the point that Jesus had not returned to life as He was, before, but had passed, beyond death to new life, with God.  Also, it’s noteworthy that His identity is not readily apparent to those to whom He appears.  His familiar gesture at the lakeside breakfast— “Jesus took the bread and gave it to them,”—answers the question of how Jesus was made “present” to His disciples…and also to us, today, in the Eucharistic meal.  †Peter, who had failed his Master, was reinstated, with a special pastoral mission: “Feed My sheep.” We must always remember, however, that our Blessed Lord is, and remains, our principal “Good Shepherd.”   

Second Chances

We are sometimes quick to “write someone off,” when they fail to live up to our expectations.  If the matter at hand is quite serious, pertaining either to business activities, or more personal, even going to so far as to become a “life and death” situation, we tend to become “once bitten, twice shy,” as the old saying goes.  People don’t always present their best selves all the time.  Sometimes, they may become complacent, and take the importance of their actions for granted, performing them in a less-than-stellar fashion.  We can observe this in people who believe they are trapped in what they perceive as “dead-end jobs.”  Then, there are moments, for all of us, wherein we discount the importance or significance of our performance.  In such instances, we take the attitude that most of our efforts are routine, and therefore, not critical to our larger mission or calling.  

We can be rudely called to attention, however, if some crisis ensues.  For the first-responders during 9/11, and even for everyday people in the surrounding areas, that “call to action” was an imperative none of them could ignore.  It didn’t matter that someone was a stranger, even moments before the tragedy.  In the heat of the moment, they became people who needed a targeted focus—and multitudes of otherwise “uninvolved” people were thrust into the fray, selflessly giving aid.  

Josef Stalin was someone, about whom it was said, “your first mistake would be your last.”  He brooked no excuse when it came to people performing their duty—and his response to failure was often “lethal.”  People said making one mistake with him was like “mishandling a detonator.”  

Very few of us would like to find ourselves dismissed for a single careless moment.  Whether due to happenstance, or weakness of character, we usually want another opportunity to redeem ourselves after a mistake.  ^†Peter’s denial of our Blessed Lord on Holy Thursday evening was the result of his weakness and cowardice.  As the ersatz leader of the apostles, he set a terrible example for the others.  

Nonetheless, Jesus didn’t cast him aside for his denial—He didn’t even “demote” him.  Nor did He level any recriminations upon Peter, for He knew there was no malice in his heart.  

^†Peter was called twice to follow Jesus:  Once early on (Mark 1:16-18,) and then again, as we heard in today’s Gospel.  This could only have happened if Jesus knew there was a better side to ^†Peter.  Strength and weakness can coexist in the same person.  He was asked to declare His love for Jesus in public way, just like He denied Him in public before the Crucifixion.  

The best way to atone for one’s sins is through service.  †Peter later wrote: “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8.)  It’s a sure bet that †Peter never forgot His denial of our Lord…but he probably didn’t let it haunt him the way some people might be haunted by their sins.  By falling from grace, he learned a great deal about himself:  that he wasn’t as brave as he once thought.  It’s far better and more satisfying to learn a lesson than to be taught a lesson….  When we learn from a fall, our recalling of it is more likely to evoke gratitude than self-recrimination.  

†Peter learned much about Jesus, too.  He realized Jesus still loved him.  And it was that love that brought †Peter “back to life.”  It’s amazing when we are loved in spite of our weakness and sins.  To love someone for their goodness is taken for granted.  But to love someone in spite of their “badness,” is remarkable!  That’s the true meaning of “grace.” 

When we thoughtfully consider the extreme gesture of Jesus on the cross, offered as a sacrifice for all the sins of mankind, we are brought to profound humility.  But the unconditional redemption of our immortal souls that is represented by our Blessed Lord’s Resurrection—promising us eternal life in the glory of the beatific Vision of God—no human concepts or expressions can match.  

Courage fails us all.  In the end, all of us are mere mortals who are inconstant in our beliefs.  We must learn to forgive our momentary weaknesses and failures, and not judge ourselves or others by momentary lapses, but by commitments, made to our principles over a long time. 

Suffering for our Faith

Very few of us will be called upon to truly “suffer” for our religious convictions.  We may encounter resistance, occasionally, for one or another of our positions, we hardly risk life and limb for them.  We read of the perilous journey of the apostles in the early years of Christianity, when they were openly chastised, persecuted and even imprisoned for their mission to spread the faith.  But, except in developing nations, today, such treatment of dissenters from the status quo is, mercifully, infrequent.  

When we do hear about people who have undergone mistreatment for their beliefs, though, we can empathize.  Constitutional freedoms are staunchly defended in our country, and have consistently been upheld against all onslaughts.  “Fine-tuning” of their meaning is an ongoing legal process, however, as is attested to by myriad stories in our daily media.  

We can’t tell in advance where our Christian vocation will take us, or what it may demand from us.  If we could see those places, perhaps our hearts would grow faint and courage would fail us.  In that respect we are like ^†Peter.  He had no idea that his response to Jesus’ call would lead him to martyrdom.  But we must believe that whatever our Christian vocation demands of us will be returned with a “hundredfold increase.”  

We are disciples of Jesus, Who depends upon us to bear witness to Him in the world, today.  Although we may not face persecution, we most likely encounter something almost as bad—the sometimes deadly indifference of our fellow citizens.  

Jesus, Savior, Blessed Friend.docx

May God Richly Bless You!

"Stand up for your conscience.  Use light to reveal what is concealed in the darkness.  Use truth to fight the lies, and the heart to fight the mind."

~~Suzy Kassem~~

To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:   https://youtu.be/60bBbNFxbAU

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by Father Michael