Third Sunday Of Easter

Sunday May 1, 2022

 

Third Sunday Of Easter

1. Encountering the Risen Lord
2. Do You Love Me?

 

Greeting (See Second Reading)

To the One who is sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb
be all praise, honor, glory and power.
May the risen Lord be with you all. R/ And also with you.

 

Introduction by the Celebrant

1. Encountering the Risen Lord

Perhaps we envy the apostles for having seen and experienced Jesus after he had risen from the dead. There is no reason to be envious of them: If we have faith, we too experience him as risen, alive, present, and sharing our life. If we have faith we know he is there when we suffer mishaps and failures or when we rejoice. If we have faith, we know Jesus is there when we strengthen and encourage one another. If we have faith, we know Jesus is with us when we share a meal of friendship, and, especially and deeply, when we eat together from the table of the Eucharist. Lift up your heads and be happy: the risen Lord is with us in life.

 

2. Do You Love Me?

If Jesus would ask you today: “How close am I to you? Do you really love me?” what answer could you give him? There have certainly been times when we offended and betrayed him by our sins. I hope that you still dare to answer: “Jesus, notwithstanding my weakness and my occasional cowardice, I still want to say that I believe in you and that I love you. I know you keep loving me and I want to keep loving you.”

 

Penitential Act

1. Encountering the Risen Lord

When we sin, we act as if we want
to keep the Lord out of our life.
Let us ask him to forgive us.
                        (pause)
Lord Jesus, you walk by our side
when we suffer and struggle,
but often we do not recognize you:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, we encounter you
when we encourage the sick and disheartened,
but often we are not aware it is you:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are present
when we share our joy and friendship at meals
and when you set before us the food of the Eucharist:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
forgive us our sins and restore our joy.
Walk by our side and lead us
to the happiness of everlasting life. R/ Amen.

 

2. Do You Love Me?

Indeed, the Lord keeps forgiving us
and we ask him to restore us fully in his love.
                        (pause)
Lord Jesus, you bring us the joy of forgiveness.
I want to love you for your mercy.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you have given us life.
I thank you for it and I love you.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are our companion in life.
Stay with me, for I love you:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy and forgive us, Lord,
and make us grow in love of you and people.
Lead us to the joy of everlasting life. R/ Amen.

 

Opening Prayer

1. Encountering the Risen Lord

Let us pray to the Father
to give us enough faith and love
to recognize Jesus present in our life
                        (pause)
God our Father,
how different and how much richer our life would be
if we were more aware of the presence
of your risen Son Jesus among us.
Give us enough love and faith to see him
inspiring and guiding our community
on the road of compassion and justice.
Make us feel his presence
when we are toiling and struggling as if in vain.
Make us recognize him as a guest
in our homes and at our family meals.
Make us fully aware that he is among us
when we meet for prayer and the Eucharist.
For then we will be strong and joyful
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

2. Do You Love Me?

Let us pray that our life
may be a response to God’s love
                        (pause)
God, source of all love
you have made your love visible to us
in the life, death and message
of your Son and our brother Jesus Christ.
May all of our life be a visible statement
that we love you in return.
Make us echo your love
by caring for our brothers and sisters
with a love freely given,
even when it is not answered.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

First Reading (Acts 5:27b-32,40b-41): We Bear Witness That Jesus Is Our Guide and Savior

No threats from the powerful can silence a Church that bears witness to the risen Lord. Like the apostles, we can count on the strength of the Holy Spirit.

Reading 1: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

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.

 

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

(2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or:
R. Alleluia.

 

Second Reading (Rev 5:11-14): All Glory to the Lamb That Was Sacrificed

The apostle John encourages his persecuted Christians with a vision from heaven. There he sees Jesus in his glory. Though Jesus was slain, he is alive and glorious. Those brought to life by him share in his risen life and victory.

Reading 2: 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.

 

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ is risen, creator of all;
he has shown pity on all people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel (Jn 21:1-19 or 21:1-14): It Is the Lord!

The apostles were toiling, apparently without success. They did not recognize the Lord’s pres­ence. But he was really with them, as he is with us, to give us strength and hope.

Gospel: Jn 21:1-19 

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."

 

or Jn 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed himself 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, " am going fishing."
They said to him, "e 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, "AIt 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.

 

Intercessions

1. Encountering the Risen Lord

Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ for all those who bear witness to him in their life and apostolate, and let us say: R/ Risen Lord, hear our prayer.

–          Lord, your apostles worked all night without result. Sustain the courage of all your apostles today who toil without apparent success. And so we pray: R/ Risen Lord, hear our prayer.

–          Lord, the apostles did not recognize you. Often, we too do not see that you are there. Make us aware that you are with us. And so we pray: R/ Risen Lord, hear our prayer.

–          Lord, today the net of the Church is filling again with peoples from all over the world. Let that net not tear but let it accommodate all, we pray to you, Lord: R/ Risen Lord, hear our prayer.

–          Lord, also today in many places your messengers are warned not to speak in your name. May your witnesses obey you rather than people and preach your word without fear, we pray: R/ Lord: Risen Lord, hear our prayer.

–          Lord, your disciples are persecuted also today, they are put into prison and tortured. Give them the courage to be faithful and to bear their sufferings with joy, we pray: R/ Risen Lord, hear our prayer.

–          Lord, may our Christian communities together with the whole of creation give you glory, honor and praise, we pray: R/ Risen Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, it is good to be here with you. You are our strength and our joy, now and for ever. R/ Amen.

 

2. Do You Love Me?

Jesus asks us, God’s people today: “Do you love me?” What shall we answer him? We say: R/ Lord, let your love grow in us.

–          Lord, you ask your Church today: Do you love me? Let all God’s people answer you: Yes, Lord, we love you, for we nourish you in the hungry and the thirsty; we visit you in the sick and in prisoners. We say: R/ Lord, let your love grow in us.

–          Lord, you ask all Christians today: Do you love me? Let them answer you: Yes, Lord, we love you, for we try to seek unity in you to become your one flock with you as our one shepherd. And so we pray: R/ Lord, let your love grow in us.

–          Lord, you ask parents today: Do you love me. Let them answer, Yes, Lord, we love you, for we let our children recognize you in our care and loving concern. And so we say: R/ Lord, let your love grow in us.

–          Lord, you ask those who suffer: Do you love me? Let them answer: Yes, Lord, we love you, for we recognize you in good people who help us in your name. And so we say: R/ Lord, let your love grow in us.

–          Lord, you ask our communities today: Do you love me? Make us answer wholeheartedly: Yes, Lord, we love you, for we are open and welcoming you in the least among us, we try our best to become one heart and soul. And so we pray: R/ Lord, let your love grow in us.

Lord Jesus, how happy we would be if we could do all we have just prayed for! Give us the power and the courage to love you very deeply, in yourself and in one another, now and for ever. R. Amen.

 

Prayer over the Gifts

God, loving Father,
you put good words on our tongue
and you fill our hands with good gifts;
you entrust even your Son to us
and you place him into our hands.
Through him, then, and together with him,
let us become to the world
your word and your gift, your sign of hope,
and make us capable of bearing witness
to your love for people,
today and tomorrow and for ever. R/ Amen.

 

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

With joyful hearts we praise the Father for Jesus’ continuous presence in his Church as a whole, in its leaders and in all of us.

 

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

With the fullest trust we pray
to our Father in heaven
that he will always be with us
through his risen Son Jesus Christ, and we say: R/ Our Father...

 

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us peace in our day.
Strengthen us with the power of your Son,
the Lamb that was slain for us,
that our faith may remain firm
in persecution, contradiction and trials,
as we look forward with joyful hope
for the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

 

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus the Lord,
who says to us, his disciples today:
Come and eat.
He takes bread and gives it to us.
Happy are we that the Lord is here. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

 

Prayer after Communion

Loving Father,
we are very happy to thank you
for letting us encounter your Son Jesus
here in this Eucharist.
Let the words in which we recognize his voice
keep resounding in our heart and life.
Now that we have shared his table together,
may his bread of life give us the strength
to bear witness to his name
and to encourage our brothers and sisters.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

 

Blessing

It is good that we have become more aware
how the risen Lord is with us
not only in this Eucharist
but also in the life of every day.
Let us learn to see the signs of his presence
in the people we meet,
in the good they do to us
and all we do for one another.
May this bring you great joy
and may almighty God bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

 

Go in the joy of the Lord.

R/ Thanks be to God.

 

Commentary

Zero Tolerance

Read:

The apostles gladly suffer for obeying God above any other human authority. John receives a vision of the triumphant Church in their heavenly glory and adoration of the Lamb of God. At the Lake of Tiberias, the Risen Christ reconfirms Peter in his Mission.

 

Reflect:

In the present times of “zero tolerance” in the Church, the act of Jesus must give us pause. There is no denying that as a Church we must flee sin like a plague. But we must also be on our guard against the temptation to ostracize our brothers and sisters for good. Zero tolerance to sin, always; zero tolerance to the sinner, never. Honestly, if we were to cast off everyone who sins, who would remain? We can only confess like the Psalmist: “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?” (Ps. 130:3). If Jesus reconfirmed a broken, sinful soul like Peter to head the Church, it is an invitation for us to recognize that we are all sinners one way or other, and we must help one another to find that love for God hidden in our hearts, which will lead us to conversion.

 

Pray:

For the leaders of the Church.

 

Act:

Ask and answer yourself: “Do I love Jesus more than everything and everyone else?”

 

Reflection is taken from Bible Diary 2022;

written by Fr.Paulson Velyannoor, CMF

 

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