Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Tuesday, 3 May 2022

HOW TO BE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE GOSPEL

20220503 HOW TO BE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE GOSPEL

03 May, 2022, Tuesday, Ss Philip and James, Apostles

First reading

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ©

The Lord appeared to James, and then to all the apostles

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.

Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 18(19):2-5 ©

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

Alleluia!

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,

and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.

Day unto day takes up the story

and night unto night makes known the message.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

Alleluia!

No speech, no word, no voice is heard

yet their span extends through all the earth,

their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Jn14:6,9

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, says the Lord.

Philip, to have seen me is to have seen the Father.

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 14:6-14 ©

To have seen me is to have seen the father

Jesus said to Thomas:

‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

No one can come to the Father except through me.

If you know me, you know my Father too.

From this moment you know him and have seen him.’

Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’

‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him ‘and you still do not know me?

‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father,

so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”?

Do you not believe

that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:

it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.

You must believe me when I say

that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;

believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.

I tell you most solemnly,

whoever believes in me

will perform the same works as I do myself,

he will perform even greater works,

because I am going to the Father.

Whatever you ask for in my name I will do,

so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask for anything in my name,

I will do it.’

HOW TO BE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE GOSPEL

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Cor 15:1-8; Ps 19:2-5; Jn 14: 6-14]

In the first reading, St Paul wrote, “Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.” What is this gospel that we must hold fast to without compromise for us to find life? Indeed, today, Christian truth is being compromised in so many ways that we no longer know where is the true Church of Christ and what is the truth of the gospel. Regardless of whatever Christian denomination we might belong to, there are certain fundamental doctrines that all Christians must adhere to if they are to be called “Christians.”

Firstly, Christians believe that Jesus is “the Way, the truth and the Life.” There is no other way except Jesus who is the fullness of truth. Anyone who purports to find life and the fullness of truth must walk the way of Jesus for He is the Way. Only Jesus can reveal to us the truth about life and show us the way. Jesus, by His life, teaching, identification with sinners and the poor, humble service to all, and most of all, His sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection, reveals to us the meaning and purpose of life. Hence, undoubtedly, He is the way to the Father as He said, “No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me, you know my Father too.” St John testified, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:15)

Secondly, Jesus is the sole mediator of the Father. When Jesus said, “I am the Way, the truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me”, He was claiming to be the One who is from God. Only one who comes from God can reveal to us about God. “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.” (Jn 1:18) Only Jesus who is the Word made flesh can show us the face of the Father. Hence, He said, “From this moment you know him and have seen him.” Indeed, the final profession of faith in Jesus must be that of St Peter, “We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:69)

Thirdly, Jesus reconciles us with God and with each other by His sacrificial death on the cross. St Paul wrote, “In the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried.” It is for our sake that Jesus came to die for us. His death on the cross reveals the immensity and tragedy of human selfishness. In showing the mercy and love of the Father and His forgiveness for our sins, His death on the cross has touched hearts and moved them to grieve for their sins of ingratitude. That is why, we must never dilute the fact that Jesus did not simply happen to die but He died for our sins, in our place and for our salvation.

Fourthly, Christians must maintain without compromise the reality of the resurrection of Christ. We must be careful that we do not fall into rationalism and extreme mythologization where the resurrection of Christ is seen merely as a resurrection of the spirit or a resurrection of Jesus’ ideals and vision in our hearts. The scripture readings make it clear that the Risen Lord is a continuity of the Jesus of Nazareth. It is not a different person and although transfigured, He has a body. The Risen Lord is not a pure spirit but a transfigured body. Only with faith in the resurrection, can our hope of our own resurrection be certain. We are not going to be annihilated after death, as many humanists think. Rather, all will be resurrected from the dead, “those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (Jn 5:29)

How do we know? How can we come to this conviction? One of the ways by which we know is from the signs that Jesus gave. Jesus said, “The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.” The miracles that Jesus performed were done to manifest the Father’s love and compassion and to reveal His identity. Jesus was always conscious that whatever He did was always in union with the Father. He has come to do His will. Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.” (Jn 5:19f) Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.” (Jn 8:42)

This would be the same basis by which the disciples would also come to know and manifest Jesus as the Risen Lord. Jesus made it clear that His disciples would do the same and even more because He will also live in them just as the Father lived in Him. “I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.” In the early Church, they demonstrated the reality of the resurrection of our Lord through the miracles they performed. Indeed, in the commissioning of the disciples to proclaim the Good News, the evangelist noted, “And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mk 16:20) This is confirmed in the Acts of the Apostles when we read, “Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.” (Acts 5:12, 16)

Secondly, the death and resurrection of our Lord were attested by scriptures. This is what St Paul affirmed when he reiterated that the death and the resurrection of Jesus were “in accordance with the scriptures.” Indeed, Jesus affirmed this truth as well when He explained to them how all these were fulfilled in scriptures. To the disciples at Emmaus, He said “‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” (Lk 24:25-27) And to the apostles when He met them later, again He confirmed this truth. “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you – that everything written about me in the laws of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” (Lk 24:44) Opening their minds to understand the scriptures, he said, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Lk 24:46-48)

Finally, we have the apostles themselves who witnessed to this fact. “He appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five thousand of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.” But it is more than just a claim by the early Christians that they saw the risen Lord. More importantly, they testified by the transformation of their lives, from one of cowardice and worldly pursuits to that of martyrdom and service to the gospel at the cost of their comfort, convenience and their life. There is nothing more convincing than the fact that they were ready to die for Jesus, and stood up for Jesus in the face of opposition, threats and persecutions. Only faith in Jesus can make this happen.

Today, we are asked to do the same. The responsorial psalm invites us to proclaim the Good News about Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Revealed and the Revealer of God His Father, in His life, passion, death and resurrection. So too, let our “word goes forth through all the earth. The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. Day unto day takes up the story and night unto night makes known the message. No speech, no word, no voice is heard yet their span extends through all the earth, their words to the utmost bounds of the world.” With the faith of Philip and James, let us reveal Jesus to the world. Like the apostles, let us do it with words and with signs. Through our personal testimony of Jesus at work in our lives, through our sharing and a transformed life of charity and mercy, we too will reveal His love and truth in the world.

Sunday, 1 May 2022

WORKING FOR GOD

20220502 WORKING FOR GOD

02 May, 2022, Monday, 3rd Week of Easter

First reading

Acts 6:8-15 ©

They could not get the better of Stephen because the Spirit prompted what he said

Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. So they procured some men to say, ‘We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against God.’ Having in this way turned the people against him as well as the elders and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise, and arrested him and brought him before the Sanhedrin. There they put up false witnesses to say, ‘This man is always making speeches against this Holy Place and the Law. We have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene is going to destroy this Place and alter the traditions that Moses handed down to us.’ The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 118(119):23-24,26-27,29-30 ©

They are happy whose life is blameless.

Alleluia!

Though princes sit plotting against me

I ponder on your statutes.

Your will is my delight;

your statutes are my counsellors.

They are happy whose life is blameless.

Alleluia!

I declared my ways and you answered;

teach me your statutes.

Make me grasp the way of your precepts

and I will muse on your wonders.

They are happy whose life is blameless.

Alleluia!

Keep me from the way of error

and teach me your law.

I have chosen the way of truth

with your decrees before me.

They are happy whose life is blameless.

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Jn20:29

Alleluia, alleluia!

‘You believe, Thomas, because you can see me.

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.

Alleluia!

Or:

Mt4:4

Alleluia, alleluia!

Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 6:22-29 ©

Do not work for food that cannot last, but for food that endures to eternal life

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water. Next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side saw that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that the disciples had set off by themselves. Other boats, however, had put in from Tiberias, near the place where the bread had been eaten. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’

Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs

but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.

Do not work for food that cannot last,

but work for food that endures to eternal life,

the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you,

for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’

Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’

WORKING FOR GOD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 6:8-15; JOHN 6:22-29]

What are you working for in life? Of course, it is more than just working for a living. In other words, what are your goals in life? What are you living for? These questions concern meaning, purpose and goal. Jesus told those people who were apparently seeking for Him. But He saw through their short-sighted intentions. He exposed their shallow motive in looking for Him and said, “‘I tell you most solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. Do not work for food that cannot last.” Indeed, many are coming to Christ for the wrong reasons too. Whether we like it or not, many Catholics come to the Lord for worldly and mundane matters. Food, money, riches, and good health are the things that most preoccupy our minds. We are creatures that seek for our own good and satisfy first and foremost our bodily needs. We are afraid of pain and death. This is understandable. But if we remain on this level, we will never find real happiness in life.

The sad truth also is that for temporal food and worldly pursuits, we will do anything to attain what we want. We will sacrifice our time and even our health to pursue these goals in life. Some even sacrifice time with their spouse and children so that they can achieve their ambition. Others would even use unethical means in business and work to get what they want. But for spiritual food, most people say that they have no time. They are too busy, too tired, too many other things to attend do. All these are lame excuses because they have time for leisure, pleasure and even engaging in unhealthy pleasures like watching pornography and gambling.

Such people, like the Jews who caught up with Him, are short-sighted. No amount of food, pleasure and achievements in life can make us truly happy or fulfilled. Many who have gone on mercy trips, especially to the poorer countries, will tell us how contented and happy these poor people are. In spite of being deprived of luxuries, they seem to be very contented and happy with whatever little they have to survive on. They might not have computers and all the modern gadgets, but they have nature to wonder at and play with. They might not have good food but they have good friends. They might not have power and glory, but they have freedom and joy. Most of all, they have God as the centre of their lives!

So if we want to find life then, as the Lord said, we must work for God. Jesus said, “Work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.” What is this food that He was referring to if not the Eucharist, the Bread of life that He comes to offer to us? This He would elaborate later. Jesus worked for God by giving His life for us for our salvation. He emptied Himself by doing His will, first of His divinity and then of His humanity on the cross. This, for Jesus, is working for God; giving up His life for His service in obedience to His will. He came not to do His own will but His Father’s will. He said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.” (Jn 4:34)

But to do the work of God we must first believe in Him. We must never confuse ourselves into thinking that working for God is the same as doing the work of God! Working for God is doing things our own way and according to what we want and feel is good. Working for God rests on human power and strength, as if the success of our work is the work of human hands. When we work for God, we make God our debtor, as if He is dependent on us. Working for God makes us proud, ambitious, and demanding. This is what we see often among priests, religious and our laity who are very much involved in Church but they are full of egotism and arrogance, demanding their rights.

Thus, when they ask the Lord, “What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?”, the response of Jesus was not what we expected. He said, “This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.” To work for God demands that we have the right foundation and point of departure. If the work for God does not spring from faith in Jesus, then we will get our priorities all wrong. We do good works not as a means to gain merit from God but always as a response to His love and mercy for us in Christ Jesus. In order that we are rightly motivated in serving God, we must take Jesus as our model in service and love of God. Jesus must be believed as the Lord and Saviour. This is the foundation. He is the principle of life, the Way, the Truth and the life.

This was what motivated St Stephen and the early Christians in the first reading. First and foremost, he had faith in the Lord. The work that Stephen did was simply to witness to the Crucified and Risen Lord and to bear testimony to His name. He was ready to face sufferings and opposition, just like his master did. In almost perfect imitation of our Lord, St Stephen too responded with confidence when he was framed with false charges against him. But in the same fashion as our Lord, he stood his ground courageously even to the extent of being stoned to death. And in the same manner, he stood there forgiving his enemies as Jesus did.

How do we know that we are truly doing the work of God and not working for God? If we are truly doing the works of God, then why are we so divided? If we are doing the work of God, why are we so bitter, disappointed and angry when we face opposition and failure? In truth, if we examine ourselves deeply, it is because we are working for God for all the wrong reasons and from the wrong inspiration of human ego based on the principles of this world. The apostles before the death and resurrection of our Lord were also following Him for ulterior and selfish motives of security, wealth and power.

If we truly are doing the work of God, then the fundamental criterion is to allow God to work in and through us. This was the case of St Stephen. We read that he was able to “work miracles and great signs among the people” because he was “filled with grace and power” bestowed upon him by the Holy Spirit. And when challenged by his detractors and opponents, he was able to defeat their arguments “because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said.” St Stephen could do much for the Lord not because he was wise and intelligent or eloquent, but because of his faith in the Lord; and his obedience to the will of God, that the Holy Spirit filled him with grace, power and wisdom. In other words, it was not so much that he was working for God, but God was at work in his life and ministry.

This is the most important pre-requisite of a Church leader, ministry member and worker. They must not rely too much on themselves, thinking how great and intelligent and gifted they are. Rather, in humility, they must seek the Lord and turn to Him if God were to work in and through their lives. We must not reduce the Church’s mission into another ideology or human movement that seeks to change the world. We are not here to propagate an ideology or make ourselves into another world power that has control over the world. No! We are here to set people free through humble service and love and in truth. Catholic theology is not an ideology, but it springs from the grace of God at work in our lives. It is God that we are proclaiming, not ourselves. The Church is only an instrument to lead people to Him. We are here to proclaim Christ as the Son of God, the Bread of life!

Consequently, let us not be discouraged or be ambitious like the world. Let us not react like the world to those who oppose us. Rather, like St Stephen, we remain angelic and Christ-like in dealing with those who oppose us, betray us, slander us and misjudge us. Like the psalmist, we seek to live a blameless life which itself is the best testimony to our faith in Christ. “They are happy whose life is blameless. Though the princes sit plotting against me I ponder on your statutes. Your will is my delight; your statutes are my counsellors.”

THE HEART OF COMMITMENT

20220501 THE HEART OF COMMITMENT

01 May, 2022, Sunday, 3rd Week of Easter

First reading

Acts 5:27-32,40-41 ©

We are witnesses to all this: we and the Holy Spirit

The high priest demanded an explanation of the Apostles. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’ They warned the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 29(30):2,4-6,11-13 ©

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

Alleluia!

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me

and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead,

restored me to life from those who sink into the grave.

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

Alleluia!

Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him,

give thanks to his holy name.

His anger lasts a moment; his favour all through life.

At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

Alleluia!

The Lord listened and had pity.

The Lord came to my help.

For me you have changed my mourning into dancing:

O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever.

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

Alleluia!

Second reading

The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given riches and power

In my vision, I, John, heard the sound of an immense number of angels gathered round the throne and the animals and the elders; there were ten thousand times ten thousand of them and thousands upon thousands, shouting, ‘The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing.’ Then I heard all the living things in creation – everything that lives in the air, and on the ground, and under the ground, and in the sea, crying, ‘To the One who is sitting on the throne and to the Lamb, be all praise, honour, glory and power, for ever and ever.’ And the four animals said, ‘Amen’; and the elders prostrated themselves to worship.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Lk24:32

Alleluia, alleluia!

Lord Jesus, explain the Scriptures to us.

Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us.

Alleluia!

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ has risen: he who created all things,

and has granted his mercy to men.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Jesus stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.

It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words ‘It is the Lord’, Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.

As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’; they knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

After the meal Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

‘I tell you most solemnly,

when you were young

you put on your own belt

and walked where you liked;

but when you grow old

you will stretch out your hands,

and somebody else will put a belt round you

and take you where you would rather not go.’

In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.’

THE HEART OF COMMITMENT

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Acts 5:27-32,40-41; Ps 30; Rev 5:11-14; Jn 21:1-19 (or >< 21:1-14)]

Today, it is difficult to speak of commitment because many of us are not ready for long term commitment. In the past, it was considered a virtue to work in one organization for a lifetime. It was called loyalty, and loyalty was rewarded. But it was not so much loyalty to the organization but to the people in charge of the organization. This was because most companies were family-owned businesses. They tended to be small and people knew each other personally. Today, it is the norm for people to job-hop and change careers. Companies are very big and staff turnover is high. We no longer work for people but for the shareholders. There is an absence of personal loyalty. Hence, loyalty to an organization for life is rare today. Sometimes, it is not considered a virtue, but a lack of exposure and experience.

What is true of loyalty at work is also true in relationships. Today’s commitment to friendship and even marriage is weak. Most relationships do not last for long. Even love and marriage do not last. People no longer marry with the utter conviction that they will stay faithful to their spouse for the rest of their lives. Seeing so many breakdowns in marriages and relationships around us, many, whilst professing their love for their spouse, also seek to protect their financial independence in case they get played out in the relationship. Trust is lacking, love is weak, and so commitment is even weaker. Whilst we all desire lifelong friendship and love, often, many of us are disappointed in love.

This is true in a very real way with respect to our commitment to the Lord as well. How committed are we to the Lord? How many of us are able to demonstrate the kind of commitment and allegiance that St Peter and the apostles displayed in bearing witness to Christ. When they were brought before the Sanhedrin – Jewish leaders who were educated in theology and scriptures, with authority over the people – and warned not to preach in the name of Jesus, they said, “Obedience to God comes before obedience to men.”

Why is that so? This is because the apostles were convinced that Jesus is Lord and God, proven by His death and resurrection. They explained, “it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” Such was the boldness displayed by the apostles and confidence in their message. They were not cowed or intimidated. On the contrary, “they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.”

How did the apostles come to this level of commitment and loyalty to the Lord? It took time. It was gradual and then radical. The truth is that although they were called to be apostles of our Lord, many of them, like us in our relationship and faith in God, also took time. Our understanding of Christ and the depth of our relationship with Him take time to mature and to blossom. When we enrol for RCIA or as cradle Catholics, we might have acquired some knowledge about Christ but we never really seriously confront what we are taught until we are challenged in life or by opponents of our faith. We think we love Jesus and we think we are committed to Him. Wasn’t that how the apostles felt as well? When they became aware of the dangers ahead of our Lord, all the apostles vouched that they would stand up for Jesus. Most of all, Peter was so sure of his loyalty to our Lord that he said, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” (Mt 26:33; Mk 14:29; Lk 22:33; Jn 13:37). But that is what we say too in our commitment to the Lord when we were baptized or when we make our religious profession or at our ordination.

But then we know Peter and the other apostles abandoned the Lord when He was arrested, tortured and put to death. All of them fled when the soldiers with the temple priests came for Jesus. After His death, as we read in today’s gospel, they were resigned to the fact that their dreams of establishing the Kingdom of God with our Lord was over. It was a failure. So they returned to their old trade, doing what they were good at, namely, fishing. They abandoned their call and the mission the Lord had given to them. And this is true for us as well. In the face of trials and temptations, we give up doing good, living out the gospel values because of opposition, disagreements and failures. This is when our loyalty breaks down.

But the Good News today is that even when we are unfaithful to the Lord, God is faithful to us. In the second reading, we read that “the Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing.” Jesus, who was faithful to His Father even unto death, shows us how to conquer sin and death. He leads us in the way. Again, in today’s gospel, He reminds us that without Him, we can do nothing. Without Him, we remain in darkness. This was what happened to the apostles. “They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.” Peter had forgotten the lesson he learnt earlier on when the Lord worked a miraculous catch when he thought there was no fish.

So Jesus gave the apostles and us a second chance. We read that “It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.” Jesus as the light of the world, the morning star, was breaking into the lives of His apostles who lived in darkness and despair. Jesus took the initiative. He called out to them, “Have you caught anything, friends?” in spite of the fact that they betrayed Him! Then He commanded them, “‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.'” Jesus came to reconcile with the apostles and made them feel loved and accepted, and forgiven when He invited them to have a meal with Him. “As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught. Come and have breakfast.’ Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.” Fish and bread are symbols of our Lord. We, too, whenever we share the Eucharist, we renew our love for Him, or rather Jesus renews His love for us whenever the priest says, “This is my body given up for you. This is my blood shed for you.”

However, Jesus still had one last job to do before He could hand over the mission to the apostles, which was to help Peter renew his commitment. Peter was chosen to be leader of the Twelve but he had failed miserably. He was too presumptuous, too sure of himself. He was proud and impulsive. He had a good heart. He loved our Lord. But his human weaknesses would disqualify him as a leader. Yet, Jesus had confidence in him. Jesus used Peter’s weakness to help him come to self-realization that without Him, he can do nothing. He allowed Peter to learn his lesson. And He wanted to heal Peter deeply. Hence, the charcoal fire was there to remind Peter how he fell when he denied him three times before the servants of the high priest. But Jesus allowed him to reaffirm his love for Him by asking him, three times, examining the depth of his love. This time, Peter was more realistic and humbler. When Jesus asked him whether he loved Him with an unconditional and godly love, Peter responded by saying that he loved Him with a human love. Jesus came to his level and accepted that imperfect love of Peter.

Indeed, Jesus took Peter where he was in his relationship. As a consequence, that relationship grew gradually from strength to strengthuntil he was ready to die for him by being crucified upside down. Jesus intimated his future when he said, “‘I tell you most solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.’ In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.'”

We too must learn humility from St Peter, recognizing our weaknesses even as leaders in leading the flock of Christ, or when engaging in the universal mission of the Church. This will teach us compassion and empathy with those who are weak and sinners. But most of all, the greatest lesson we can learn is that the heart of commitment is love for our Lord. Jesus could accept Peter’s infidelity and failures and weaknesses simply because Peter truly loved our Lord. True, he overestimated his love for Christ but he was sincere even though presumptuous. But after his failure, St Peter changed radically and later on he would write to the elders telling them to exercise humility in caring for the flock of God. (1 Pt 1-5) Love and humility is the gateway to loyalty to the mission the Lord has entrusted to us. We will be fruitful with a great harvest of 153 fishes, a symbol of the universal Church, whose mission reaches to all men and women.