Feed My Sheep!

April 14,2013

Reading 1, Acts 5:27-32, 40-41

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

Reading 2, Revelation 5:11-14

Gospel, John 21:1-19

¹⁷ Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.

Feed My Sheep!

This Sunday the second Sunday after Easter Sunday Jesus appeared to His disciples: “This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.” John 21:14

In this Gospel scene I am amazed that a carpenter teaches fishermen how to fish. They had been out all night: “Jesus called out, 'haven’t you caught anything, friends?' And when they answered, 'No, ‘he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish.” John 21:5-6

The first time Jesus appeared to the disciples, they were in the upper room, locked up for fear of the Jewish authorities who were looking for them. In this scene after that first appearance they were already emboldened and had joy and peace in their hearts. The disciples no longer cower in fear but is able to return to their normal life as fishermen.

Then in the final scene in today’s Gospel Jesus is giving his “habilin” (“Last Will”) to Peter by asking him: “‘Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.” John 21: 17

About 4 years ago I was forced to retire in the company I worked for. I looked for a job but days, weeks, months and a year passed by but I have not landed a job. I was devastated and afraid of what will be the future of my family. I was like the disciples who caught nothing for a whole night. But as fate would have it, I obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life. I had a detour. I shifted to another career of helping people get out of debt, save and invest, and get out of employment and be their own business owners. I and my wife shifted our focus not on our own needs but on the needs of others. We spread the love of the Lord through our “Financial Mentoring Ministry”. The more we share (feed the lambs), the more blessed we are financially. All praise and thanks be to God!^“You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have stripped off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. So my heart will sing to you unceasingly, Yahweh, my God, I shall praise you forever” Psalm 30:11-12

PRAYERS

Dear Jesus, we thank You and we praise You so much! You are our source of Hope and Joy! We ask You to continue to bless us, keep us in your mighty care! We ask you to let Your goodness and mercy come alive in us so we can continue the mission you have given the apostles and disciples to “feed your lambs”. We ask this through the intercession of Mama Mary, and through Your most powerful Name: Jesus our Resurrected Lord forever and ever, Amen!