• Home
  • About
    • Monastic Life
    • Gallery
    • History
      • Holy Cross Abbey
      • Cistercian Order
      • Property and Battlefield
    • FAQs
    • Videos
  • Take Part
    • Pray with us
    • Visit
      • Service Times
      • Directions
    • Vocation
    • Lay Members
  • Vocation
  • Retreat House
    • Testimonials
  • Cemetery
    • Overview
    • Stones
    • Rules Overview
    • Pricing
  • Store
    • Gift Shop / Porter’s Cottage
    • Bakery Products
    • Webstore
  • Updates
    • News
    • Liturgy
    • Abbot’s Lectio Post
  • Contact

Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane Berryville, Virginia 22611

Support Us
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Fr. James’ Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year C, 10 April, 2016

April 10, 2016 by James

Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

I believe there are moments in John’s Gospel when Jesus challenges the best out of people standing on the brink. Last month he asked the woman taken in adultery, Has no one condemned you? If she is ever to change her life, she must answer No one, Sir, lest she spend the rest of her life condemning herself in despair.

Jesus says to doubting Thomas, Put your finger here. So Thomas does what the other disciples didn’t dare but should have done. He touches Jesus as any of that had once done–and they’re again connected with the Lord.

I believe it’s very important for Peter‘s sake that Jesus asks him three times, Simon son of John, do you love me? Having betrayed Jesus three times, it’s only fair that Peter should reaffirm his love three times. But might Jesus also be provoking Peter to break free of the tangle of his self-doubts? Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.

This is what Simon Peter does best: he owns his sins and without any self-justification, again follows the Lord. It’s not east to let go of shame, is it? It’s not easy to push on, everyone knowing how badly you failed.

This is John’s version of Peter’s confession, of his faith and frailty, This is the way he admits you are the Christ; doesn’t he then reveal that his love is deeper than his betrayal?

As only John’s Gospel could, Simon Peter is central to God’s people because he’s moveable, capable of accompanying the sheep he guides.

Share

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: News

Contact Retreat House

For Guest House reservations
information@hcava.org
540-955-4383

Documentary Trailer

Watch the full-length documentary on the videos page.

More Video

Support Us with a Donation

Contact Us

Newsletter Signup

Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane
Berryville, Virginia 22611-2700
Phone: (540) 955-4383

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Quicklinks

  • Cemetery
  • Retreats
  • Directions
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Get Involved

  • Pray with us
  • Visit
  • Vocation
  • Support Us

Copyright © Holy Cross Abbey - All Rights Reserved
Website Development and Management by MarketSpark
Maintenance Log -  Webmail -  Admin