THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER - Gospel (John 21:1-19) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- May 6
- 7 min read
FIRST READING - Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
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.
SECOND READING from the Book of Revelation - Rev 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.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - John 21:1-19
From the Gospel according to John
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."
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER - Gospel (John 21:1-19)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today’s Word of God, God the Father calls all humanity to turn to Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. But for whom did He rise again? The death of Jesus Christ holds the meaning of salvation for all humanity—from this life until the end of time. The death and resurrection of the Only Son of God the Father, Jesus Christ, brings infinite benefits to all mankind. That is why today, God the Father calls all His children in this world to turn to Him—the only true Father—and to turn to Jesus Christ, who sacrificed Himself, died, and rose again to save every human soul.
Through today’s Word of God, we see the image of the first disciples of Jesus Christ, who also sacrificed themselves, suffered humiliation, and endured persecution for bearing witness to the Good News of the Only Son of God. Likewise, even today, all who follow the work of God the Father and desire to please Him will certainly face condemnation, persecution, humiliation, misunderstanding, and exclusion. But all these persecutions, trials, and sufferings cannot compare to the glory and happiness that God the Father will reward them with in the Kingdom of Heaven.
To be humiliated for the name of Jesus Christ, to be scorned for bearing witness to the Gospel of God's salvation in this world, is a great blessing for those who dare to endure suffering and persecution, sacrifice, and humiliation for the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, all those whom God the Father invites and touches in their hearts and souls to commit themselves to the cross of Jesus Christ must faithfully follow Him until their last breath. They must accept the true cross, suffering, and death, and then God the Father will resurrect them with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. God the Father also invites all His children to follow the example of the obedience of the apostles of old. When He said to cast the net on the right side of the boat, they obeyed. When He said to go out into the deep to fish, they obeyed. They did not ask why; they simply followed.
But to do this, first and foremost, He invites all the people in the world to ask for the grace of faith. For when one has absolute trust in God, one will place everything in His hands. And where there is trust, there will also be love for God. Finally, place love above all things—just as the apostles did in the past. They showed their love for God by obeying His will and promising to remain faithful to God the Father until their last breath. They made an absolute confession of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to bring salvation to all humanity. They courageously lived as witnesses of God the Father; through the lives of sacrifice, charity, love, patience, and a determined effort to abandon bad habits, worldly passions, and sins belonging to the world, belonging to Satan.
Today, God the Father places within each human being a sacred and vital mission in His work during this era of the Holy Spirit’s activity: to courageously bear witness to His love and salvation, which continues to be poured out upon all humanity. This is how God uses the Angel Thien Thuong to write the Real Word of God the Father, made real through the action of the Holy Spirit. During this time, God also permits Satan the freedom to attack His work—or alternatively, to abandon sin and rebellion against God the Father, and seek the grace of conversion and repentance. In doing so, Satan, too, may come to work for God the Father and receive the grace of conversion.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God the Father desires that all who seek to please Him and engage in His work also boldly proclaim His power and love—made visible in all creatures in heaven and on earth. Whatever He wills shall come to pass. Whatever He declares will be fulfilled according to His will. If He desires that angels come down to earth as humans to love, to work, and to walk alongside mankind, then it will happen exactly as He wills. No one can stop the power and strength of God the Father.
Thus, to all who remain faithful to God the Father until their final breath in His work, He will grant the reward of the Kingdom of Heaven—according to His divine will. We must all turn to God the Father, just as in the time of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Even now, and forever, we must continuously turn to God the Father, placing our faith, hope, and love for Him above all else—by sacrificing ourselves to love and serve others as we love ourselves.
As Jesus Christ bowed down in service, in love, in self-sacrifice—even to the point of death to save all humanity—so today, God the Father also invites all His apostles in this new era to place their faith, hope, and love for His work above all things. And in everything He commands, we are called to bow down and obey.
Thanks be to God. Amen
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