Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter cycle C

My sisters and brothers let us follow the example of Peter and Paul – responding to Christ’s call with diligence.

In our first reading we heard the famous story of the conversion of St. Paul. He is not only smacked down by God but healed by Ananias and baptized. That is, Paul becomes a member of “The Way” that he had been persecuting. His conversion is utter and complete. Luke has told us, earlier in Acts that in Jerusalem - Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women throwing them into prison. Now we see his great transformation: from persecutor to evangelist. In the early days, Christianity was known as “the Way” and its members were almost exclusively Jewish. Their custom was to worship in synagogues on the Sabbath and to celebrate the “Lord’s Supper” gathered in one another’s homes. It wasn’t until after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, 70 AD, that the service we are familiar with began to develop. But the roots of our worship service do go back to the first and second generation of Christians.

In the second reading we heard today, from Revelation, John further describes his vision of the glorious court of heaven. This is intended to be an inspired picture-book, inspiring the reader through their imagination. In his vision, he sees God’s throne and the heavenly scene around it and hears the praises sung there. He describes God’s throne as reverenced by “twenty-four elders,” perhaps the twelve Old Testament patriarchs and the twelve apostles.

The “four living creatures” around the throne are angelic beings representing the whole of creation; they are God’s agents who watch over all of nature and symbolize what is most splendid about animals: nobility (lion), strength (ox), wisdom (human), and oversight (eagle).

Our gospel story today is another of Jesus appearances after the resurrection; this time, by the sea of Tiberius. Three times Jesus questions Peter about loving him and three times commissions him to be pastor for the others. Several scholars have written about this scene, trying to make deeper sense of it. Most agree that it is a symbolic reversal of Peter’s denial of Jesus; supporting Peters primary role as head apostle.

Today we should take a close look at the example of Peter and Paul. Neither are “perfect disciples” but, both are called and commissioned as ministers in Christ. Each experienced the call in their own unique ways. We are each called and commissioned also and our experience of that call can be as unique as Peter or Paul.

Probably most of us would rather pattern our selves after Peter rather than Paul. Getting a smack down from the Lord as Paul did certainly doesn’t look pleasant. But some of us may well have experienced this kind of conversion. Neither kind of experience makes us better or worse disciples. Peter got questioned about his commitment three times. But then again, we all fall short and need to make a rededication of some sort. What matters is that we say yes and diligently pursue the work of God.

That work is something we actually know too well. Love your neighbor; treat others the way you want to be treated. It simply means if you would want help in a time of trouble or crises, then reach out to others in their time of hardship. Whether that is people suffering from poverty, crime, hatred or separation from family and friends, etc. It’s about doing the loving and charitable thing the presents itself to be done.