Is it end of everything . . . and back to former life?

Third Sunday of Easter-Year C

April 14, 2013
Year of Faith 

What will you do when everything you have suddenly disappeared? Or that the only person or thing you hope for will go away or leave you behind and vanish? or die and/or turn into ashes? How about if someone leaves or forsakes us, and he or she will be no longer with us, are there still enthusiasm to go on in us, to continue dreaming, striving for us to be more steady, and still living together and mutually supporting one another for better future, despite the lost? Or do we just give up, that’s for sure we just drop all because our world comes to an end, for our companion is no longer here present? And are all our efforts, plans and all that we have saved will just turn into nothing, like dust in the wind, and will let them put to rot until they all dissolve into nothing? And, are they seem nothing, seem no more life in us, no life, (walang kalatuy-latoy), worthless life in us; as if though nothing happened after all those intimate years of integration, after all those long experiences partaken, and those encounters shared and all the unifying ways we have done?

All this and more are the experiences, feelings and thoughts the Apostles Peter, John, James, Andrew and other disciples are undergoing now when the Lord Jesus Christ was arrested, judged, tortured, and later carrying and nailed on the cross, until he died and was buried in the tomb. For the Apostles and disciples, the Lord was dead and gone, and so also their faith, hope and love are finished. For them also everything is buried in the tomb, and therefore they are also dead; for as they thought Jesus was dead and disappeared forever, due to their unclear mind and lack of faith in the resurrection.

So Peter, still in his younger age, is stripping his garments and saying to his companions that he will just going back to fishing. And, together with his associates, they also agreeing to Peter by saying that they will join him in fishing, that is for sure they wanted to say also that, “Let us go back to our old ways;” they are going back to what they did before, from their former lives; for anyway, everything is totally gone, most of all their Leader, Friend, Teacher or Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

With the same thought, feelings and experiences of the Apostles and disciples, do we want also to go on our own individually? And/or do what we would like to do as we did before, with no more caring, with no more concern for one another and no more plans for our brighter future?  Anyhow, all the things we care about are totally gone, dead or turned into ashes and blown by the wind.  Even our expectations, hopes and dreams are dead after our Lord Jesus Christ died.  We are just up to here and no more.  But, are we really sure that is the end of the world for us and is it up until here only?

When the rest of the group of Peter, (i.e., James and John, Andrew and others) returning at sea or in their old ways, why is it they were not able to catch fish even though they were at the sea all night long?  Why is it the school of fish becomes distant yet very near to them, they are only about a hundred yards along the shore?  And why even the shore is as if very far from them?

The answer is because their former life and their daily usual routines were changed when Jesus Christ came into their lives. They who were trained or skilled in fishing and they knew the sea, for here they grew up and lived, as they mastered the depth or even the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Even the movement of the sea waves, they have known how much or little fish present in that area. And in every catapult or throw of their nets into the water, they were sure they could catch many fishes. But despite all of this expertise – of being trained fishermen, as their livelihood and even their family business, they rejected them all, and followed and joined in Jesus’ movement; so that, they were more alive inside out, their hopes were raised higher, there were more freedom in the little world they were in; they reached unexpected places, being in convergence with different kinds of people (rich, poor, powerful, slaves, healthy, weak, educated, ignorant, etc.). They were also taught of the wisdom of heavenly things as well as combating the evil ones, and being taught also of justice and respect for all. Freedom was given to them from their bondage to selfish self; and they had a new way, a new reality, a new life. And all of this is because of Jesus Christ, their Friend, Teacher, Master and Lord!

But now that Jesus Christ was dead and gone, so also they lost (for the meantime) what they have learned and experienced from him, and that they will no longer continue the work He had taught them. Is it just like that, just as if Jesus was not true to what He promised?

And as expected the unexpected, it is unthinkable for Peter, James and John, Andrew and others who were in the boats to be called and told by someone from the bank of the shore at such time of early morning dawn where they can catch more fish, actually as it is recorded, about 153 large fish.  As usual, the true lover is more able to know his beloved, said: “It is the Lord!” And having heard this, they all found life in them again. They become persuasive and strong again, and hope restored in them once more. Suddenly, everything now is clearer as morning dawn.  They understand now what is going to happen to them, especially to Peter when he grows old and how he will die. And, at that very moment, Simon Peter quickly dressed himself up again in his nakedness. (Maybe this refers to Adam (and even to Eve) when he was in Paradise naked and without malice, but after sinning he covered his nakedness).  He put on again the clothes he threw – that is his new life, authority and disposition - of faith, hope and love to the Lord, in service to the people of God. Now, as they conquer fear and regain their courage, all the Apostles and disciples are ready to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, as the new day dawn, at the table set by the Lord with bread and some fish.  And to make sure that they know what they are going to do when he departs, He asked them, through Simon Peter as their representative and leader, three times: “Do you love me more than these? (pointing to the 153 fishes more or less representing the total number of nations known in the ancient Near East, or to their boats (former life)  and clothes (old habits) they want to revert or go back). Three times also they responded that they would like to prove to Jesus their love and obedience to Him.

From the Sea of Tiberias and now to the Temple in Jerusalem, in front of the Jewish leaders (the Sanhedrin), they are more prepared to obey God rather than men (or themselves), courageous enough to announce the Holy Name of Jesus as witnesses of His resurrection.  Now, they believed in the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, although He departed them is still in them and in us.  They and as we are now displaying their and our trust again in His word and promise, that although He is leaving them and us, He is still upon us, through his flock – the lambs, the sheep, the people of God - by continuing serving them by loving, feeding and caring his flocks He left to us . . . And even if He leaves us, our Lord Jesus Christ will remain in us until the end of time.

Personal Experience

When my parents died, I thought it’s the end of the world because they supported me, guided me, helping me to become strong, independent and wise.  I did not realize that they trained me and given me all the possibilities to become more mature and self-sufficient, and to have a sense of self-sacrifice for others, so that I can stand straight even when strong typhoons, winds, etc. (problems) come into my life.  What I was thinking about the death of my parents was that I’m alone, abandoned, an orphan.  But, after a while, it came to my mind, to my senses, that my parents are still with me, still present in my life, for they were able to teach me despite of their absence all the facts of life.  All they have taught me, I should have used them to continue their presence in my life, until we meet again in the next life.  Nevertheless, I cannot forget them and still remember them all the days of my life because I love them very much.  Nay, Tay, I love you!  Lelang, Lelong, Lola, Lolo, ate Solly, mga kamag-anak, pinsan, kaibigan at kakilala, mga nabensiyonan, at kayong nasa kabilang buhay na . . .  I still love and miss you all.  Rest assured that I will always pray for you to God our Almighty Father!