Acts 5:27-32, 40-41. Rev 5:11-14; John
21:1-19
In 1748 during the battle of Nile aboard the French
Ship Orient, there took place a great and heroic event of trust. Commander
Louse de Casabianca asked his young son Giocante to wait for his
order to leave the deck. The boy stood on the deck waiting for his father’s
orders. The ship caught
fire. Flames rose to the sky. He was surrounded by flames. Finally he called out,
fire. Flames rose to the sky. He was surrounded by flames. Finally he called out,
“Say father, say, if yet my task is done”
But the poor little boy did not know that his
father was lying dead and cold in the bottom of the ship. He stood on the
burning deck with absolute trust in his father.
“Speak, father! Once again he cried.
“If I may yet be gone!”
While over him fast, through sail and shroud
The wreathing fires made way.
Felicia Cortothea Hemans immortalized the trust
of Giocante in the poem Casabianca.
As Giocante showed unwavering trust in his
father we see Peter expressing his unchallengeable trust in Jesus.
Peter and his companions went out fishing but they caught nothing in the
night. In the morning Jesus stood on shore and told them, “Throw
your net out to the starboard and you will find something.” Without any
hesitation Peter did so. John emphasizes that they had a great catch. This is
the second time that Peter shows his absolute trust in the words of Jesus.
By the lake of Gennesaret, Jesus once got
into the boat of Simon Peter, and asked him to cast the net into the deep
sea. Simon Peter replied, Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!
But at your word I will let down the nets.(Lk 5:4).
In spite of all these, after the crucifixion of
Jesus Peter gave up his hope. His declaration, “I am going fishing”
indicates his giving up and returning to the old style of life. But the
words, “It’s the Lord” transforms him. The world has never been the same for
Peter. The realization of the fact of resurrection of Jesus transformed
everything for him. It transformed everything for the apostles. They
spread throughout the world and turned the Roman Empire upside
down. Empires fell before them and kings did obeisance.
The realization, “It is the Lord” transformed
them into men of courage. Today’s first reading enumerates the heroic
deeds of the Apostles. The timid men who confined themselves into the rooms
behind closed doors come out and proclaims the resurrection of Jesus
with unrelenting boldness
The realization, “It is the Lord” transformed
them into men of principle. They refused to heed to the warnings of the Sanhedrin
and declared that in all circumstances obedience to God should come first.
Above all it gave them a clear vision of their function.
As Peter gave up his hope and trust for
a moment and declared, “I am going fishing”, we too give up- we give up
our communion with the church; we give up our hope in the benevolence of God;
we give up our faith in humanity. At these dark moments the declaration
of the Apostle, “It is the Lord” that the Lord is with us to enkindle our
hope and trust should give us strength and courage to count on Him.
Peter’s trust in Jesus brought him new
responsibilities. Jesus wanted Peter to profess his faith in Him before
others. It brought him a task. Jesus said, “If you love me feed my sheep.” And
it brought him a cross. Jesus said, when you were young you put on your
own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will
stretch on your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round and
take you where you would rather not go.
On the shore of Gennesaret Jesus used Peter’s boat
as a platform to convey His teachings to the people. Now Jesus uses Peter
himself as an instrument to impart his message to the Jews and
Gentiles alike.
Our hope and trust in Jesus entrust
us with the responsibility of bearing witness to his life and teachings as
did Peter and the Apostles.
Satish