"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?"

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

 So they brought them in

And made them stand before the Council and the High Priest questioned them,   “We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend charging us with the killing of this man.”   To this Peter and the apostles replied, “Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority!

 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a wooden post.   God set him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.   We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

 They called in the apostles and had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus Savior. Then they set them free.  The apostles went out from the Council rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name.

 

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

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

   ＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Revelation 5:11-14

 I went on looking; I heard the noise of a multitude of angels gathered around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, num­bering millions of millions,   crying out with a loud voice: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive

power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor, glory and praise.

 Then I heard the voice of the whole universe, heaven, earth, sea and the place of the dead; every creature cried out: To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory and power for ever and ever.

 And the four living creatures said, Amen, while the elders bowed down and worshiped.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

John 21:1-19

 After this Jesus revealed him­­­­­self to the disciples by the Lake of Tiberias. He appeared to them in this way.   Simon Peter, Thomas who was called the Twin, Natha­nael of Cana in Gal­­i­lee, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were together;  and Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They replied, “We will come with you” and they went out and got into the boat. But they caught nothing that night.

When day had already broken, Jesus was stand­ing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus called them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered, “Noth­ing.”  Then he said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they had lowered the net, they were not able to pull it in be­cause of the great number of fish.

 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” At these words, “It’s the Lord,” Simon Peter put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and jumped into the water.  The other disciples came in the boat dragging the net full of fish; they were not far from land, about a hun­dred meters.

 When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it, and some bread.   Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.”   So Simon ­Peter climbed into the boat and pulled the net to shore. It was full of big fish – one hundred and fifty-three – but, in spite of this, the net was not torn.

 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast,” and not one of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” for they knew it was the Lord.   Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and he did the same with the fish.

 This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after rising from the dead.

 After they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Si­mon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Look after my sheep.”   And a third time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep.   Truly, I say to you, when you were young you put on your belt and walked where you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will put a belt around you and lead you where you do not wish to go.”

Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify God. And he added, “Follow me.”

    

Gospel Reflection：

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?”