Short homily - Third Sunday of Easter

Theme: “Do You Love Me? Feed My Sheep”

Readings:

  • Acts 5:27–32, 40b–41

  • Psalm 30:2, 4, 5–6, 11–12, 13

  • Revelation 5:11–14

  • John 21:1–19


Easter is not a single day, it’s a whole season of rediscovery—of recognising that the Risen Jesus walks with us in everyday life. Today’s Gospel is a breakfast story. A reminder that Jesus meets us not just in the temple or the chapel, but around a fire, by the sea, in moments of tiredness and need.

😊 One fisherman in Cape Town once said, “Fishing is the only job where you can do nothing all day and still hope to catch something!” Like Peter, the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. But Jesus turns their nothing into abundance. Sometimes, our “failed nets” are the beginning of God's work.

📖 

In John 21, Peter returns to fishing—perhaps out of shame or confusion after denying Jesus. But the Risen Lord is not done with him. Jesus prepares a meal, feeds the disciples, and then gently restores Peter with a question not of judgment, but of love: “Do you love me?”
He asks three times—not to remind Peter of his three denials, but to remind him of a deeper truth: love is the foundation of mission.

In Acts, the apostles face opposition, but they rejoice—not in their suffering, but in the privilege of bearing witness to Christ.
Revelation gives us a heavenly vision—every creature, every angel, every voice praising the Lamb who was slain. It is a vision of ultimate hope and glory.

🕊️ Eucharist Connection

Jesus not only fed them physically, but spiritually. The same Lord who served them breakfast now serves us Himself in the Eucharist—Body broken, Blood poured, Love given. He invites us again today: “Come, eat.” And then: “Go, feed others.”

💭 Question for Reflection

What is Jesus asking me to do with the love I have for Him?
Is He calling me to feed, forgive, listen, or serve someone?

🧭 Daily Practical Application

  • Call someone you’ve neglected. 
  • Volunteer at church. 
  • Drop groceries for a struggling family. 
  • Feed His sheep—start with the ones closest to you.

🌧️ Maybe like Peter, you carry regret. You’ve denied Christ in moments of fear or shame. But Jesus still comes to you—not to punish, but to restore. He still calls you by name and says: “Follow me.”

🕊️ What Can I Do During the Jubilee Year?

Be a witness of mercy. Share your faith. Forgive someone. Join a ministry. Walk with others as a Pilgrim of Hope. Let this be the year you return to love—and let love move you to action.

🇿🇦 In our land of load-shedding, unemployment, and unrest, it’s easy to return to our “old boats,” our comfort zones. But the Risen Christ is also standing on the shore of our nation, calling us to cast our nets deeper. To love more. To rebuild hope together.

🌟 Inspirational Quote

"The Lord is not finished with you. If He could use Peter the denier, He can use you the dreamer."

🏁 Easter is about restoration. Peter thought it was over. Jesus said: “It’s only beginning.” Let Christ feed you today, and then go out and feed others with mercy, hope, and courage.

🙏 Risen Jesus,

You meet us in our doubts, in our tiredness, even in our failures.
You ask us not for perfection, but for love.
Help us say yes to your call.
Feed us with your peace,
So that we may feed others with compassion.
Amen.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
Homily for the Feast of Saint James, Apostle   🌟 Theme: "Called to Share the Cup: Witness, Sacrifice, and Glory" Readings: First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Psalm: 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28 📍 Introduction  A priest was explaining to his catechism class that apostles were not superheroes but ordinary men with extraordinary missions. A little boy interrupted: “Father, if they weren’t superheroes, why did Jesus pick guys with names like James the Greater and James the Lesser? Was that like Batman and Robin?” The class laughed—and the priest chuckled too. “No, my child, it just meant that one was probably older or taller!” This reminds us that God uses ordinary people, not perfect or powerful ones, to do great things—people like James, whose feast we celebrate today. 📖 The Word of God 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 speaks of "treasures in jars of clay"—how the glorious message of the Gospel is carried by fragile, fallible human beings...
Read more
Image
  Pope Leo XIV: A New Chapter of Hope and Courage for the Church By Fr. Mathibela Sebothoma Photo: Deadline In a moment charged with quiet reverence and global anticipation, the white smoke rose over St. Peter’s Square—Habemus Papam. The conclave of cardinals has elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., as the 267th successor of Saint Peter. He has chosen the name Leo XIV , signaling both continuity with the Church’s past and a renewed commitment to mission in our complex and fractured world. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV is a son of the Americas—North and South. His life has been marked by a deep missionary spirit, intellectual depth, and a pastoral heart. Raised in a devout Catholic family of French-Canadian heritage, he entered the Order of St. Augustine in 1977, professed his first vows the following year, and was ordained a priest in 1982. Educated at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and later awarded a Doctorate in Canon L...
Read more
Image
Homily for Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Cycle II) : 📖 Readings: First Reading : Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 — God provides manna and quail to feed His people in the wilderness. Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28 — “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” Gospel : Matthew 13:1-9 — The Parable of the Sower. ✨ “God Provides — Will You Receive?” 👋 Introduction: Today God reminds us of something fundamental: He feeds His people. Whether in the desert or in the Gospel message, God’s care is constant. The real challenge is not whether God provides, but whether we are ready to receive, to trust, and to grow. 😂 Humorous Story: There is a funny story of a man who prayed: “Lord, please give me patience… and I need it RIGHT NOW!” That’s a little like us: we want quick solutions, instant signs, and easy answers. But God, in His wisdom, teaches us to trust His timing and to receive His Word daily, like manna—just enough for today. 📜 Exegesis ...
Read more