Gospel Reflection 2021/2022

The Risen Lord is our story.

Fr Vincentius Lin, SJ [Conversation Hour, 29 Apr 2022] beautifully points out that, “The Risen Lord is our story.”

It is a short and profound statement which encapsulates the core of Christianity – what Christianity is all about – the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In saying ‘the Risen Lord is our story’, it means to say that the Easter narratives in the Gospels MUST NOT be read as events of the past, with mere sense of sentimentalism and nostalgia. As faithful Christians, the Easter narrative is STILL actively taking place in us and in the world, here and now. The same Risen Lord, who appeared to the disciples two thousand years ago, IS HERE WITH US, even when we do not realise it.

“I’m going fishing.” [Jn 21: 3]

All was lost, all hope was crushed, all sense of the future was dashed, all turned silent, gloomy and dark – right after the death of Jesus.

Disappointed, depressed, dejected, disillusioned and defeated, the disciples had decided to throw in the towel, abandon ‘the sinking ship’ (the Church), and return to their former way of life. Even Peter, the Chief Apostle, had decided to turn away from his vocation (his call) as the ‘fisher of men’ and go back to his old profession i.e., fishing.

Like the disciples, the trials, temptations, tribulations and turbulences of life have often risen over us, tossed us around, swept over us and overwhelmed us. Like the disciples, we are disappointed, depressed, dejected, disillusioned and defeated: we seek the Lord but could not see Him, we raise our eyes with hope but all we see are wars, plagues, disasters, devastations, errors, terrors, sin and evil.

Like the disciples, we are in darkness: we have wanted to give up, abandon our faith in God and the Church, and return to our former way of life. We depend on our own self, our own wit and strength, and we ‘caught nothing’ [Jn 21: 3]. We are mere stewards, not gods. Without God, we are nothing but a speck of dust or a puff of breath.

‘It was light by now and there stood Jesus.' [Jn 21: 4]

St John the evangelist takes notice of the ‘light’ and the ‘Light’, as he fondly recalls: ‘it was light by now and there stood Jesus…’

A moment ago, the disciples were still in darkness: they were disappointed, depressed, dejected, disillusioned and defeated. Then, quietly and subtly, the ‘light’ revealed the ‘Light’. As JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, stood before the disciples, the darkness that shrouded their minds and hearts was lifted, and they began to see.

“Throw the net out to starboard and you will find something,” Jesus told them [Jn 21: 6]. The disciples listened and obeyed even though they had tried whole night and they were all sick and tired of trying. Yet, with Jesus, everything is possible – they caught so many fish that they could hardly haul them in.

“It is the Lord.” [Jn 21: 7]: yes, He is always near and He is always here; ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ [Rm 8: 37-39].

In the darkness of our life, we need ‘light’ to see the ‘Light’: we need the light of the Scriptures, the light of the Sacraments and the light of the Church to see Jesus, the Light of the World. And in seeing Jesus, listening to Him and obeying Him, we will ‘have the light of life’ [Jn 8: 12].

What is ‘impossible’ to us is always ‘I’M possible’ (I AM possible) with Jesus. All that is required from us is to see, listen and obey.

“Come and have breakfast.” [Jn 21: 12]

It is important to remember that Jesus says, “Come and have breakfast.” He DOES NOT say, “Come and see Me eat breakfast.”

With the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions in Malaysia, it is time to return to the Church. Live-streamed Masses and spiritual communion are only temporary measures during the pandemic. We are not called to be ‘social hermits’ (Pope Francis | Message for World Day of Communication 2019) hiding within the walls of our homes forever.

As early as Apr 2020 (at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic), Pope Francis [Homily | 17 Apr 2020] had already warned us of the dangers of online Masses. We must not grow contented or addicted to live-streamed Masses and spiritual communion. He has clearly and unambiguously pointed out the obvious that, “Faith via media consumption IS NOT the Church! … Online Masses and spiritual communion DO NOT REPRESENT the Church! … (it is dangerous) living the faith only for ourselves – detached from the Sacraments, the Church and the people of God!”

The night of exile is over; a new day is dawning!

St Pope John Paul II has this to say [The CTS New Daily Missal, 2012],

“‘It is the Lord’ [Jn 21: 7]. This exclamation of the Apostle John emphasises the intense emotion experienced by the disciples on recognising the risen Jesus, who appeared to them for the third time on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. After a long night of loneliness and toil, the dawn arrives and His appearance radically changes everything: the darkness is overcome by light, the fruitless work becomes an easy and abundant catch of fish, the feeling of tiredness and loneliness is transformed into joy and peace. Since then, these sentiments enliven the Church. If at a superficial level it sometimes seems that the darkness of evil and the toil of everyday life have the upper hand, the Church knows with certainty that the light of Easter now shines eternally on those who follow Christ. The great message of the Resurrection fills the hearts of the faithful with inner joy and renewed hope.”

Perhaps this Easter Season is an invitation to put faith over fear: by coming back to the Table of the Lord for the REAL and HOLY COMMUNION – to see Him, to listen to Him and to obey Him – and let our hearts be filled with inner joy and renewed hope.

“Come and have breakfast,” the Lord calls. The call is for you and for me.

Let our fervent prayer be:

“O Risen Lord, enlighten us and enliven us by the power of Your Resurrection. Let our hearts be filled with inner joy and renewed hope.”

Let us also pray with and pray for Ukraine that:

“The weapons of war be silenced, the evil of the aggressors be stopped, and those who hold the fate of the world in their hands may spare us from the horror and madness of war.”