Staying the Course of Discipleship

HOMILY: Third Sunday of Easter

John 21:1-19

1 May 2022 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

By now you know how much of a K-Drama fan I am. It should not surprise you that I will begin this homily with a beautiful quote from the K-Drama, Twenty-Five Twenty-One: “Don’t ever forget how you earned a new opportunity. Whenever you’re having a hard time, remind yourself how difficult it was to start.” – Fencing Coach Yang. It got me thinking and I realized, it’s true. Opportunities arise because we desire to better ourselves and our life, and so opt to do something differently or to take risks in order for that change to happen. Often times, it takes a long time and much sacrifice and we need to be strong and persevering. Am I right? 

In John’s Gospel, we hear how the disciples reverted back to their old life of fishing even though Jesus had already appeared to them a few times while they were in hiding, fearing for themselves. Apparently, those visits from the risen Christ were not enough to fully convince them that they were to continue the mission in their Master’s absence. They probably still felt confused, afraid and abandoned because Jesus was no longer physically with them all the time to lead them, guide them, console them and enlighten them. We read about Peter and the other disciples fishing again. But strangely enough, although they are expert fishermen, they caught absolutely nothing! In their frustration they took the advice of a stranger and were shocked to have filled their nets with 153 large fish. It was only then that they recognize the Lord. Peter jumps into the water and the rest follow in the boat to eagerly meet the Lord. 

Let us first recognize that the symbolism in the gospel is very rich. Scholars say that 153 fish was symbolic of the 153 species of fish in the world so in a sense their catch was representative of ALL fish. Remember that Jesus had called them out of being fishermen to be FISHERS of MEN, so this catch was a message that if they stick to the Lord’s plan, their mission will take them to all peoples and they will be able to convert people from every race and nationality. Secondly, Jesus cooks fish and bread — the same food He multiplied for the hungry 5000.  This is meant to help His disciples recognize Him and confirm His identity. Lastly, we keep an eye on Peter. He does not recognize Jesus until the beloved disciple mentions this. Only then does he react. He jumps in the water lightly clad and wades ashore to meet Jesus who is cooking on a charcoal fire. Peter is lightly clad to represent his feeling of shame and nakedness before the Lord who knew that Peter would deny Him 3 times even before it happened. The charcoal fire must have also been a painful memory of the charcoal fire in the courtyard where Peter stood to warm himself when He denied that He was among Jesus’ disciples. And yet we know in the story that Peter had nothing to fear.  After Jesus asks Peter three times: “Do you love me?” (John 21:15), all is forgiven and Jesus even entrusts Him with the leadership and care for His flock. This encounter emphasizes how lovingly the Lord pursued his frightened disciples to call them back to the mission. He was giving them back the opportunity. He was giving them another chance. 

We are very much like the disciples ourselves when we are easily discouraged by all the challenges of life.  When things don’t go as planned, we think, God is not listening to our prayers or God does not care about us or God does not love us and sometimes we convince ourselves that God is cruel to us. We forget all the times God had helped us and has been good to us. We stop counting our blessings and count all our frustrations and failings instead. So, we stop praying. We stop trying to live honestly, resort to unethical shortcuts, we lie, we cheat, we steal and become inconsiderate of others. We even delight in having duped others or put one over them (naisahan ang kapwa) to our advantage. How very quickly do we find ourselves returning to our former life and its patterns when we experience even just the slightest failure in our tracks. How very quickly we let go of our faith in Jesus. How quickly we allow the fire of enthusiasm to be extinguished. I know this because I hear this a lot in confession. And sometimes, I am also tempted to lose heart when things don’t go the way I prayed they would. 

It is not only in spiritual aspects that this rings true. Even in our day-to-day life, we observe this. These days we all speak of the elections. I notice how the older generation is more cynical. Many have let go of their dreams for capable leaders with integrity and an administration that is decent and effective. They are so frustrated by the failure of past leaders to keep their campaign promises of eradicating corruption, of leading the nation to progress, of addressing poverty, joblessness and hunger, of raising salaries and of providing better healthcare and education. (May iba pang nagsasabi, sinungaling ang lahat ng pulitikong nangangako ng pagbabago. Pare-pareho lang silang nagiging corrupt pagnahalal na sila. They no longer believe it when candidates claim they will do better. Parang sinukuan na nila ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas. Wala na silang natatanaw na pag-asa. Bumabalik sila sa pagkiling at pag-endorso ng mga trapo, yung sikat at yung namimigay ng pera. Nakakalungkot. Dapat nga bumoto ang mga mas nakatatanda para sa kapakanan ng kabataan at kinabukasan ng Pilipinas. Ano ba ang gusto nating ipamanang bansa sa ating mga anak at apo? Bilang magulang masisikmura ba nating  maghandog sa ating mga mahal na anak at apo ng isang bansang binasura at napariwara ng kanyang mga lider?)  This election is our chance to choose better.  We should not forget the errors of the past but let us also not lose hope for the future of the Philippines. (Abot-kamay natin ang pagkakataong ito para sa pagbabago, wag na sana nating pakawalan.  Wag na tayong bumalik sa dati na nagdulot lang sa atin ng kasiraan at limpak-limpak na pagkakautang.) We have come a long way. We have fought hard and sacrificed much to savour the freedoms we have. I am not just talking of the past 60 years, but of all those in the history of our country who dreamed of a better home for future generations. Let us not waste it. 

Let us take inspiration from the First Reading that shows us the changes that occurred in the disciples, especially Peter when He took the opportunity to continue serving the Lord. In the passage from the Acts of the Apostles, we see that Peter did not waste the chance Jesus had given him.  The fearful Peter who denied Jesus three times was gone, replaced by a Peter who proclaimed the truth of the resurrection and spoke boldly of the new life to be found in Jesus’ name. It was the experience of the Risen Jesus that inspired Peter to speak with boldness and to defy the strict orders of the Sanhedrin to stop teaching in Jesus’ name. “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:9) The disciples even rejoiced that they were able to “suffer dishonour for the sake of the name.” (Acts 5:41) Like them, we too have been filled with the Spirit of Jesus not to be discouraged by our failures, our shortcomings, our sinfulness. The Spirit compels us to continue trying, to staying the course of discipleship.  In this spirit, I want to appeal to the youth.  Your vote will play a huge role in deciding the next set of Philippine leaders on May 9. Your vote comprises more than half of the 65.7 million voters in the country. As our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal famously said: “The youth are the hope of our motherland.” (Ang mag kabataan ang siyang pagasa ng ating Inang Bayan.”. Huwag kayong magpaimpluwensiya sa mga taong tila nawalan na ng pag-asa para sa ikabubuti natin.) Do not lose hope and your idealism. It is too early for you to be cynical and indifferent.  Pray for guidance. Let the Lord lead you to legitimate leaders. Cast your vote wisely. This is your mission for the nation today. 

We often need renewal so we do not lose our sense of mission and our ability to recognise the Lord in our everyday plans and endeavours.  Remember how we were first called.  Pray that we be re-newed, re-vived, and re-animated in our faith by the triumphant Jesus who is stronger, more powerful than all that threaten to destroy us. Like Peter, we are invited to wade through the water and swim towards the One who fills our empty nets and grants us second chances.