Third Sunday of Easter

Year C

Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

Feed My Sheep…

The loud and clear call of Jesus today, to Peter and to all of his disciples, is to feed His sheep. Dear friends in Christ Jesus, we are in the Third Sunday of Easter and we have celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord with joy and happiness. After the celebrations, it is natural to take a break and slow down and go about doing our usual tasks by living our simple and humble lives. But today’s liturgy asks us to live our simple and humble lives in a meaningful way, that is, by being aware of our neighbours’ needs and if possible “feed them”. I’m sure your eyebrows have already gone up with the words “feed them” (!). Let us not take these words literally. We all know that feeding does not always mean by food and material needs alone; it also applies to the spiritual, emotional and, quite often, psychological needs of the people. Let us look into today’s Gospel itself to get the clarification to this expression, “feeding”.

After the dreadful day of Jesus’ crucifixion and His death on the cross, the apostles were scattered and had lost all hope. Even when the women brought the good news of Jesus’ resurrection on early Sunday morning, they failed to believe. Now, in utter desperation and without hope, they go back to their former ways of living and get back into their trade of fishing. It is interesting to note that history is repeating itself. Peter and his companions are in the Sea of Galilee, they have worked the whole night casting nets into the sea and have caught nothing. Early in the morning they see this stranger on the shore who asks them to lower their nets again and lo and behold (!) they have a huge catch. The disciples are overwhelmed with the miracle and are wondering who this person is, even though in their heart they hope it is the Lord. Then the stranger takes the initiative. He knows the hunger and tiredness of the apostles and he feeds them, literally with the food, but spiritually with his presence.

Let us move one step closer to analyse the deeper symbolism in the Gospel: the disciples are not able to recognise Him. Jesus, after his resurrection appears to be a stranger. His former appearance has disappeared. But they recognise Him through his actions; actions of hospitality, actions of generosity, actions of love, actions of understanding. On the other hand, they are invited to do the same to every stranger that they meet. They are invited to care for the sheep, invited to “feed the sheep”; no matter what kind of sheep or what colour of sheep or what race of sheep.

So dear friends, let us look into ourselves now and see how well do I recognise Jesus, who is appearing to me as a stranger in the face of humanity, and see how do I follow His command. Do I give even a gentle smile to the one whom I have hated for ages? Am I generous in my daily life when it comes to help a neighbour who needs assistance? Have I raised my voice for the benefit of the people who are discriminated on the basis of race, sex, religion and so on?

Let us then, dear friends, take up the pledge today to “feed the sheep”; feed every sheep I can that needs my presence. Not through any extraordinary means, but in our own simple and humble ways. And let us pray that our Loving God will help us in our endeavours as God helped the apostles in their mission.

Amen.