John 10:27-30 - Good Shepherd's Sunday (April 17, 2014, 4th Sunday of Easter)

Gospel:

Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

Gospel Trivia:

The key to understanding this message is to determine who were listening to Jesus: NOT his disciples, but the Jews who were against him.

Thus, when Jesus says, "my sheep hear my voice," he is actually saying the Jews who were against him were not his sheep; that they will not have eternal life, and that they will perish.

The "knowing" that Jesus describes is more than knowing one's physical attributes or characteristics, but more about one's character and deep motivations -- like when we say "I really know that person."  Or when we say, "I thought I knew him" -- when someone does something completely out of character.

Secondly, note that Jesus presents eternal life as a gift; there is no other requirement but to believe in Jesus.  This is opposite the ways of the Jews who believed that God's pleasure can be earned by following their stringent laws and rules.

Thirdly, Jesus claims unity with the Father.  This does not mean just a unity in will and purpose, but a unity equivalent to the divine nature of God.  Thus, in the verse right after the last of this Sunday's gospel), the Jews were angered by this phrase and wanted to stone him for blasphemy.

We are chosen not because we love God, but because God loves us first and chose us.  This is why Jesus is the good shepherd -- he chooses us though we are undeserving.

Reference:


- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), pp. 146-148.

John 21:1-19 (3rd Sunday of Easter, April 10, 2015)

Gospel:

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.”

Gospel Trivia:

There are many interesting phrases and expressions in the gospel which leads to a better understanding of its message:

- Jesus uses "children" to address the apostles - the Greek term used in the original writings is more accurately translated to the word used to address simple people, something like "mga pare".  Jesus was addressing the disciples as adults, or as equals.

- Note the accurate count of the fishes caught, 153 - there are many interpretations of the significance of this number.  For example, it was known at that time that there are 153 species of fish, thus it suggests that Jesus "fishers of men" would be able to reach and "catch" all of humanity.  More importantly, the sheer amount of the catch suggests that the mission of the disciples would succeed.

- Jesus asks that the disciples contribute some of their catch to the breakfast that he is preparing, but note that he does not use any - It suggests that Jesus provides for their needs.

- The net dragged by Peter was not "torn" - again, the Greek work used is more accurately translated to "schism", suggesting that the church of Peter will remain unified.

- Lastly, Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves the Lord.  It is reminiscent of his three denials.  It is an opportunity for humility, and a realization that Jesus' confidence remains with his disciples despite their weaknesses.

The gospel message speaks of our abilities with God's power.  It is not us using the power of God, but the power of God using us.

Reference:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), pp.

John 20:19-31 - The Doubting Thomas (2nd Sunday of Easter, April 3, 2016)

Gospel:

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Gospel Trivia:

The story of the doubting Thomas is a familiar one.  The following "Gospel trivia" may help us appreciate the impact of this passage to early Christian communities:

- John's gospel was written for Jewish Christians (i.e. those who converted from Judaism to Christianity), as well as for those who were non-Jews (mainly, Ephesians) who converted to Christianity.  You can imagine therefore that there were some skepticism encountered by the evangelist regarding the Resurrection of Jesus.  The gospel writer was an eyewitness to Jesus' resurrection, but his audience were not.

- Thus, John emphasizes the significance of believing without seeing in this passage.

- Thomas' belief results to his declaration: "My Lord and my God."  The word "lord" is translated from the original Hebrew word "Elohim" which is used to address Yahweh in the Old Testament.  Until then, no one in the gospel of John uses this title for Jesus.  

John emphasizes that our faith, yours and mine, are stronger than those of the disciples as we have come to believe, not through seeing, but through the power of the Spirit and the presence of Jesus through His Church.

- Note that there is no mention in the gospel that Thomas ACTUALLY touched Jesus -- he only saw, and then believed.

Ever wondered what happened to Thomas?

- Thomas eventually traveled to ancient Babylon (present day Iraq), Persia (present-day Iran), and India where he preached relentlessly, built churches, and won Christ over to others. For someone who was slow to believe, Thomas’s new stage of faith certainly enabled him to accomplish so much.

We often say, “to see is to believe.” Through Thomas, John is teaching us that “to believe is to see… and to see so much more.” 

With our faith, we see God in the beauty of creation, we see God’s hand in the event of our lives, and we see how other people continue to show the love and forgiveness that only God can make possible. Isn’t this the kind of faith that is more blessed?

References:


*Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Manila: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), p. 265.

*Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Manila: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), pp. 255-259.