The Word On Sunday: Do you love Me more than these?

Readings for April 14, 2013

Third Sunday of Easter

It-Tielet Hadd ta’ l-Ghid

Messalin C 201

Reading 1 - Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

When the captain and the court officers had brought the apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders, did we not, to stop teaching in that name? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “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 has given to those who obey him.” The Sanhedrin ordered the apostles to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni. - Atti tal-Appostli, 5, 27b-32, 40b-41

F'dak iż-żmien, il-qaddejja ressqu lill-appostli quddiem is-Sinedriju. U l-qassis il-kbir qalilhom: "Aħna għednielkom fuq li għednielkom biex ma tgħallmux fuq dan l-isem. U araw, issa mlejtu 'l Ġerusalemm bit-tagħlim tagħkom, u tridu titfgħu fuqna l-ħtija ta' demm dan il-bniedem!" Iżda Pietru, flimkien mal-appostli, wieġeb u qal: "Jeħtieġ nobdu aktar lil Alla milli l-bnedmin. Alla ta' missirijietna qajjem lil Ġesu' li intom qtiltuh billi dendiltuh ma' għuda. Alla għollieħ bil-leminija tiegħu u għamlu kap u salvatur, biex jagħti lil Iżrael l-indiema u l-maħfra tad-dnubiet. U ta' dan kollu hawn xhieda aħna flimkien mal-Ispirtu s-Santu li Alla ta lil dawk li jobduh." Lill-appostli wara li tawhom is-swat, ordnawlhom li ma jitkellmux fuq l-isem ta' Ġesu'; imbagħad telquhom. Iżda huma ħarġu minn quddiem is-Sinedriju ferħara talli ġew meqjusa bħala nies li jistħoqqilhom li jkunu mmaqdra minħabba l-isem ta' Ġesu'. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Responsorial Psalm - Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. or: R. Alleluia.

I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. R/

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing. R/

Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks. R/

Salm Responsorjali - Salm 29(30)

R/ Ngħollik, Mulej, għax erfajtni.

(jew) Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Ngħollik, Mulej, għax erfajtni,

u ma ferraħtx l-għedewwa tiegħi bija.

Mulej, tellajtli mill-mewt 'il ruħi,

ħlistni minn fost dawk li jinżlu fil-ħofra. R/

Għannu lill-Mulej, ħbieb tiegħu,

faħħru l-isem imqaddes tiegħu.

Għax ftit iddum is-saħna tiegħu,

iżda għomor sħiħ l-imħabba tiegħu.

Filgħaxija jidħol il-biki,

filgħodu jidwi l-għajjat ta' ferħ. R/

ismagħni, Mulej, u ħenn għalija;

kun, Mulej, l-għajnuna tiegħi!

Int bdilt fi żfin l-għali tiegħi.

Mulej, Alla tiegħi, infaħħrek għal dejjem. R/

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Reading 2 - Revelations 5:11-14

I, John, looked and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.” The four living creatures answered, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. . This is the Word of The Lord.

Il-Tieni Lezzjoni - Apokalissi ta' San Ġwann Appostlu 5, 11-14

Jiena, Ġwanni, ħarist, u minn madwar it-tron u l-Ħlejjaq Ħajjin u x-Xjuħ smajt il-leħen ta' ħafna anġli, li l-għadd tagħhom kien għaxriet ta' eluf u eluf ta' elf, jgħidu b'leħen qawwi: "Jistħoqqlu l-Ħaruf li kien maqtul li jirċievi l-qawwa u l-għana u l-għerf u s-saħħa u l-ġieħ u l-glorja u t-tifħir." U fis-sema, fuq l-art, taħt l-art, u fil-baħar u l-ħlejjaq kollha li fihom, smajthom jgħidu: "Lil dak li qiegħed fuq it-tron u lill-Ħaruf, jingħata t-tifħir u l-ġieħ u l-glorja u l-ħakma, għal dejjem ta' dejjem." L-erba' Ħlejjaq Ħajjin bdew iwieġbu: "Ammen!" filwaqt li x-xjuħ inxteħtu jagħtu qima. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Gospel - John 21:1-19

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, 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.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Evanġelju - San Ġwann. 21, 1-19

F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' raġa deher lid-dixxipli ħdejn il-baħar ta' Tiberija. Dehrilhom hekk: Xmun Pietru, Tumas, li jgħidulu t-Tewmi, Natanjel minn Kana tal-Galilija, ulied Żebedew u tnejn oħra mid-dixxipli tiegħu kienu flimien. Xmun Pietru qalilhom: "Sejjer nistad." Qalulu: "Ħa niġu miegħek, aħna wkoll.."Marru, rikbu d-dgħajsa, u dak il-lejl ma qabdu xejn. Filgħodu mas-sebħ, Ġesu' kien qiegħed ix-xatt, imma d-dixxipli ma kinux jafu li kien Ġesu'. Ġesu' qalilhom:"Għandkom x'tieklu, ħbiebn?" "Le," weġbuh. Qalilhom:"Waddbu x-xibka n-naħa tal-lemin tad-dgħajsa u ssibu." Dawn waddbu x-xibka, u mbagħad ma felħux jiġbduha daqs kemm qabdu ħut! Id-dixxiplu li kien iħobb Ġesu' qal lil Pietru: ""Il-Mulej dan!" Għalhekk Xmun Pietru, kif sama' li kien il-Mulej, xehet fuqu l-libsa ta' fuq, għax kien għoddu għeri, u ntafa' l-baħar. Id-dixxipli l-oħra, billi ma kinux imbiegħda wisq mill-art, imma xi mitejn driegħ biss, resqu bid-dgħajsa jkaxkru warajhom ix-xibka bil-ħut. Kif niżlu l-art, raw li kien hemm xi faħam jaqbad, bil-ħut fuq, u xi ftit ħobż. Qalilhom Ġesu': "Newlu 'l hawn xi ħutiet minn dawk li għadkom kemm qbadtu." Xmun Pietru tala' fid-dgħajza u ġibed l-art ix-xbka mimlija b'mija u tlieta u ħamsin ħuta kbira; u minkejja daqshekk ħut, ix-xibka ma nqasmitx. Qalilhom Ġesu': "Ejjew, kulu." Imma ħadd mid-dixxipli ma ssogra jistaqsih: "Int min int?", għax kienu jafu li kien il-Mulejj. Ġesu' resaq, qabad il-ħobż u newwilhulhom; u hekk ukoll għamel bil-ħut. Din kienet ġa t-tielet darba li Ġesu' deher lid-dixxipli wara l-qawmien tiegħu mill-imwiet. Wara li kielu xi ħaġa, Ġesu' qal lil Xmun Pietru: "Xmun bin Ġwanni, tħobbni int aktar minn dawn? Wieġbu: "Iva, Mulej, int taf li nħobbok." Qallu: Irgħa l-ħrief tiegħi." Staqsieh għat-tieni darba: "Xmun bin-Ġwanni, tħobbni int?" "Iva, Mulej,int taf li nħobbok." Qallu: "Irgħa n-nagħaġ tiegħi." Għat-tielet darba staqsieh: "Xmun bin Ġwanni, tħobbni/" Pietru ħassgħafsa ta' qalb għax staqsieh għat-tielet darba: "Tħobbi?" u qallu:"Mulej, int taf kollox, int taf li nħobbok." Qallu Ġesu': "Irgħa n-nagħaġ tiegħi. Tassew, tassew ngħidlek, meta kont żagħżuħ, kont tiħażżem waħdek u tmur fejn trid; imma meta tixjieħ, int tiftaħ idejk u ħaddieħor iħażżmek u jieħdok fejn ma tkunx trid." Dan qalu biex ifisser b'liema mewta kien sejjer jagħti ġlorja lil Alla. imbagħad Ġesu' ssokta jgħidlu: "Ejja warajja." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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COMMENTARY -

Father Cantalamessa on Infinite Chances

Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings from this Sunday's liturgy.

Do You Love Me?

Reading the Gospel of John, we understand that originally it ended with Chapter 20. If Chapter 21 was added on later, why did the Evangelist or some disciple of his feel the need to insist yet again on the reality of Christ's resurrection.

The teaching that is drawn from this Gospel passage is that Jesus is risen not just in "a manner of speaking," but really, in his new body. "We ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead," Peter will say in the Acts of the Apostles, probably referring to this episode (Acts 10:4).

In John's Gospel, Jesus' dialogue with Peter follows the scene in which he eats the roasted fish with the apostles. Three questions: "Do you love me?" Three answers: "You know that I love you." Three conclusions: "Feed my sheep!"

With these words Jesus confers on Peter, de facto -- and according to the Catholic interpretation, to his successors -- the office of supreme and universal shepherd of the flock of Christ. He confers on him that primacy that he promised him when he said: "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19).

The most moving thing about this page of the Gospel is that Jesus remains faithful to the promise made to Peter despite Peter's not having been faithful to his promise to never betray him even at the cost of his life (cf. Matthew 26:35).

Jesus' triple question is explained by his desire to give Peter the possibility of canceling out his triple denial of Jesus during the passion.

God always gives men a second chance, and often a third, a fourth and infinite chances. He does not remove people from his book at their first mistake.

What does this do for us? His master's confidence and his master's forgiveness made Peter a new person; strong, faithful unto death. He fed Christ's faithful in the difficult moments in the Church's beginning, when it was necessary to leave Galilee and take to the roads of the world.

Peter will be able in the end to keep his promise to give his life for Christ. If we would learn the lesson contained in Christ's interaction with Peter, putting our confidence in someone even after they have made a mistake, there would be a lot fewer failures and marginalized people in the world!

The dialogue of Jesus and Peter should be transferred to the life of each one of us. St. Augustine, commenting on this passage of the Gospel, says: "Questioning Peter, Jesus also questions each of us." The question: "Do you love me?" is addressed to each disciple.

Christianity is not an ensemble of teachings and practices; it is something much more intimate and profound. It is a relationship of friendship with the person of Jesus Christ. Many times during his earthly life he asked people: "Do you believe?" and never "Do you love me?" He does this only now, after giving us proof of how much he loves us in his passion and death.

Jesus makes love for him consist in serving others: "Do you love me? Feed my sheep." He does not want to benefit from the fruits of this love but he wants his sheep to. He is the recipient of Peter's love but not its beneficiary. It as if he said to Peter: "Consider what you do for my flock as done to me."

This implicates us as well. Our love for Christ should not be something private and sentimental but should express itself in the service of others, in doing good to others. Mother Teresa of Calcutta often said: "The fruit of love is service and the fruit of service is peace."