How do you love Jesus?

Ø Intro –Third Sunday of Easter = Third revelation of risen Christ

A. Gospel story rich in symbolism

1. The fishing boat as church & Peter as her captain, the miraculous catch as a mark of the Church, the meal as Eucharist and call to love

2. Peter is the focus Reflection from his perspective

B. Peter’s spirit is disquieted. What am I to do?

1. He is joyful that Jesus is back, but what does this Res mean?

2. He reverts to what he knows, fishing. With 0% success

C. In the dim light of dawn as stranger appears on the shore

1. “Catch anything worth putting with bread?” Embarrassing “no.”

2. Professional fisherman takes the advice of the stranger

3. All night they fished on the starboard side, by the deep Now?

D. They catch fish where fish are not supposed to be caught

1. They catch 153 large ones the nets hold, somehow

2. How does this happen? “It is the Lord”

3. Jesus’s resurrected presence makes all the difference

E. Message to Peter

1. In light of my PM there is no going back to your former life

2. Peter you see what your efforts got you? Nothing. Move forward

F. The boat, with Peter as the captain represents the Church

1. The catch of 153 is symbolic of all humanity St. Jerome

2. One of the Marks of the Church – Catholic Universality

3. Call to faith in Jesus in His Church is meant for all no matter your circumstances of life supportive family or dysfunctional, life of privilege or poverty, born on the wrong side of the tracks or not. Even if Easter was the first time you came back to Church in a while.

4. The catch of fish where fish are not meant to be caught. Even to man from KC without a religious background and a woman born in Seoul South Korea The resurrected Lord Jesus makes it happen.

Ø Then comes breakfast

A. Jesus once again reveals himself to His disciples at the breaking of bread

1. Like the Last Supper Like Emmaus

2. Like the Mass, the meal of thanksgiving, the Eucharist we celebrate

Ø What follows next is the literal, original “Come to Jesus” moment for Peter

A. The Lord knows He and Peter have some unfinished business relationship

1. “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

2. He replies, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you “

3. Love’s meaning Jesus = agape Peter=phileo

B. Peter’s response is NOT in keeping with the Lord’s question

1. The best Peter can muster is phileo.

2. Peter, your role will require you to agape me in order to carry it out

3. Peter your days of fishing are over “Feed my lambs.”

4. Second time, the same

5. Third time, Jesus adopts to phileo to meet Peter where he is now without removing the exhortation to grow deeper in love with Him

Ø Peter will learn to grow into agape love for Jesus

A. Reading from Acts

1. Third time Peter is hauled before the court for preaching “the name”

2. The rulers of the Jews Won’t say “the name” Jesus

3. The rulers are fearful of retribution:” (You) want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

B. Peter responds with the truth

1. You ARE responsible for His death but that is not our motivation for preaching “the Name”

2. It is what God has done with Christ sacrificial offering

3. “God raised Him. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior.”

4. This “blood” you are so worried about, “grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.”

5. This is the most important thing “We cannot stop speaking about it. We must obey God, rather than man.”

6. Do what you will, we won’t stop Because we agape the Lord

Ø The challenging question put to Peter by the Lord is also meant for us

A. (Insert your name for Simon, son of John) do you love (agape) me?”

1. Not friendship, not love like you love chocolate

2. Love like the Lord loves us with our eternal welfare in mind

3. Selfless, sacrificial love demonstrated by the PM

4. This Easter season is a perfect “Come to Jesus” moment; a time to respond anew to this direct question from our Lord.

B. May the grace of this Easter season allow us to grow in love as Peter did

1. Christ Resurrection is the MOST important thing

2. That we make it so central to who we are that we cannot stop

3. Join the myriad of angels, saints and martyrs in heaven in proclaiming “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”