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Fr. Craig’s Contemplations
Third Sunday of Easter
In the face of Peter’s triple denial of Him on the eve of Jesus’ passion. We now enter into the 21st chapter of St. John’s Gospel, and we hear the risen Jesus ask Peter, three times, “Do you love me?” Jesus draws out from Peter a love that deepens his “contrition” and “reparation.” Jesus helps Peter to see that through being humble and seeking contrition, Jesus will GIVE him a deeper love.
Like Peter, “we are called to obey the Lord” – which means that we are CONFIDENT in Christ’s love even in times of temptation, weakness, fear, etc. With that in mind, we must always remember that heartache and hope go hand in hand. Consider for a moment, Peter, and Judas, both betray our Lord. As we all know, Judas sells our Lord Jesus out. Peter denies Jesus three times. Step back for a moment, Judas and Peter KNEW of Jesus’ kindness, each of them were witnesses to His miracles and heard His message of mercy. Peter sought in a humble way contrition and reparation, Judas did not.
When we look to Jesus, with a humble mind and heart, we can gain authentic confidence in Christ’s love, even when we feel, we have fallen short. We can pray now in confidence, Psalm 30, “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.”
It would be good to re-read, verses 15 through 17 of this sacred Gospel passage.
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Fr. Jean Du Ceur de Jésus D Elbée, teaches us – when Jesus founded His Church on Peter, He asked him the same question three times: Peter do you love me? (He could have asked, Peter, will you be a man of character? Or an entirely different series of questions.) Instead, he asks “Peter, do you love me?” That is all. If Peter loved Jesus, the Holy Spirit would be in him, and he would lack nothing he needed to feed the lambs and the sheep. Therefore, Fr. Jean Du Ceur de Jésus D Elbée, stresses Love therefore fulfills the law. Consider, St. Margaret Mary, St. John Vianney, St. Therese the Little Flower – how were they able to carry forward the divine mission initiated by our Lord Jesus that then began by St. Peter? The answer, by loving. When we say in our prayer, I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me [and] keep loving. We carry forward in our time, the mission of Jesus.
May God be with you!
Fr. Craig
Mass on Monday, May 2 & Memorial Day-May 30 will be at 9:00 a.m. not 7:00p.m.
READINGS FOR MAY 1, 2022
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
1st Reading—Acts of the Apostles 5: 27-32, 40b-41— The high priest interrogated the apostles and ordered them not to speak again about Jesus. The apostles left filled with joy for having been found worthy of ill-treatment for Christ.
Responsorial Psalm: 30: 2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13— “I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me, I will praise you, Lord, for your mercy. I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me; I will praise you, Lord.”
2nd Reading—Revelation 5: 11-14 — The author of Revelation had a vision and heard the voices of countless angels who surrounded the heavenly throne. They cried, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain…to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”
Gospel Acclamation—Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
“The day of the Lord is near; come, behold, he has come to save us.”
Gospel—John 21: 1-19— Peter and the disciples fished all night but caught nothing. Jesus appeared to them, telling them to cast their nets again, and immediately the nets were filled with fish. After they ate, Jesus told Simon Peter, “Feed my lambs…tend my sheep.”
3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER - C – MAY 1, 2022
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
1) Let us pray for the Church:
God, to whom all praise, honor and glory is given;
May we be like Peter and profess our love for you.Bless our newest members, the adults and children claimed through
Baptism and now seated at your table.
We pray to the Lord…
2) Let us pray for peace in the world:
Have pity on the vulnerable and hear the cry of the poor.
Console the families of Ukraine.
Keep all troops in your loving arms.
We pray to the Lord…
3) Let us pray for racial harmony and peace in our land:
Help us to live as one, O Lord, black and white, rich and poor.
Rid our country of the scourge of hatred and violence.
We pray to the Lord…
4) Let us pray for the sick of our community:
Lord of all life, bring healing to our brothers and sisters who are ill:
Kevin Petrusha Betty Morici Catherine Konen
Joe Bouknight Jack Little Mark Norman
Gabriel Kelty
and for all who have asked for our prayers.
We pray to the Lord…
6) Let us remember our beloved dead:
Let Easter dawn shine upon our loved ones who have died.
Especially…Lara Ramsey, sister of Erica Miner and…
(5:00 Mass) John Battani
(8:30 Mass) Jadwiga Bembenek, Pam Allen
(10:30 Mass) Jack Zubalik, Sandra Savel
We pray to the Lord…
ANNOUNCEMENTS – MAY 1, 2022
- Our Parish Appreciation Dinner for our adult volunteers is Friday, May 20th. If you are 21 or older and have volunteered in any way, please sign up in the book provided in the gathering area. Our theme this year is “Tropical Vacation.” Come dressed appropriately—vacation/tropical wear, to add to the festivities!
- The Quilting and craft group will meet on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Solanus Hall.
- Our Parish Fundraiser is this Friday, May 6th. If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, you can do so tomorrow, Monday May 2nd in the parish office. Sales will be closed at 4 p.m. that day. There will be no ticket sales at the door.
- Next weekend we will have Right to Life Carnations for sale.
- The parish offices will be closed on Friday, May 6th after the 9 a.m. Mass.
- Monday Mass on May 2nd will be at 9 a.m. not 7 p.m.
- The Monthly potluck dinner is next Saturday, May 7th after the 5 p.m. Mass. All are welcome.
