John 21:1-19 Obeying God Through Peter

Third Sunday of Easter

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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 him 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.”

Just a few days ago I read the latest issue of the radical newspaper, the National Catholic Reporter (NCR).  I thought after so many years, I would have mellowed out regarding my opinion of it.  I was wrong.  I was just as disgusted with it a few days ago as I was when first read it, nearly twenty years ago, at Nazareth College in upstate New York. 

But what perfect timing to relate this newspaper with today’s Gospel passage.

Jesus took him aside.  I think that most of the lay staff at NCR honestly believe that they are not only infallible in matters of faith and morals; but above all, above God, especially when it comes to the outcome of a conclave and Council.  I am most certain of the former, for one of their “reporters” (“ideologists” would be better term) wrote that she actually “cried” when she learned that Pope Benedict had been elected. 

How funny and stupid. 

By actually admitting to this (and publishing it), she demonstrated two things:  a profound lack of faith in the Holy Spirit (in God); and a strong belief that men (people) are stronger than God! 

Talk about a lack of faith!

For NCR and company, the last great Pope was Blessed John XXIII.  For them, he was the last Pope to be inspired by the Holy Spirit!  And although they have made Blessed John XXIII out to be their hero, I do not believe he ever made them out to be his.  And although they claim to have been inspired by him, there is nothing to suggest that he was ever inspired by them. 

By all accounts, NCR has made it clear that Pope John XXIII’s greatest achievement was to die; and to die before the end of the Second Vatican Council.  How else could they so confidently finish his sentences?  How else could they routinely tell us what he truly wanted to accomplish!  How else would they be able to tell the world that the “spirit of the Council” had been hijacked? 

But by who?  By God?  Did God hijack His council???

No one hijacked the council.  It was inspired by God and completed by God.

It was the Lord who decided who would start the council and finish it.  It was the Lord who would decide who would be Pope and who would be the next Pope.  After all, if the Holy Spirit inspired John XXIII, did she not inspire Paul VI?  Well then, who do they claim hijacked the council?  They say it was stubborn old men, but all the fingerprints point to God! 

Peter said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:27-32).  Hence, NCR is wasting all their money, their ads, their time and efforts in storming the gates of Heaven rather than the gates of the Vatican or Hell (depending on how NCR really views her).  Why aren't they going after the source of the problem!  They shouldn’t be fighting the little guy.  They should be going after the big “FISH”! 

Instead of writing articles denouncing Vatican policies, they should be praying novenas and denouncing God's policies!  They should be praying the rosary to end the ban on gay "marriage", but they don’t.  They should be signing up and doing perpetual adoration to change God’s mind with regards to abortion, but they don’t! 

They could be fixing this "injustice" sooner rather than later, and fix it for good! 

Look at history.  How often has the Vatican been sacked?  Many times, and only to rise again!  Com’on you folks over at NCR!  The problem isn’t with the Church, the problem is with God! 

But I must warn you, Salvation History appears to be against you.  If you recall, the Chosen People of God were constantly back stabbing and murmuring against their great leader, Moses.  So what did he do about it?  Did he relinquish his role?  Of course not!  Did he open his decisions (which were actually God’s decisions) up to a vote?  Of course not!  Imagine if he did.  The people would be back in Egypt working on pyramids! 

Instead, Moses stayed the course, stayed on track, and kept driving his stiff-necked people closer and closer to the Promised Land.  He led a group of conceited, undeserving, selfish, arrogant and obnoxious people to God.  He did that.  Christ did that.  And the Pope does it as well.  Not much has changed.   

Blessed John XXIII died before he could see the end of the council.  I do not know what he would have done, but I do know what God did, and I find it ridiculous for anyone to claim that the outcome would have been different if John XXIII had lived longer. 

What a lack of faith!  What a lack of coherency!  What a lack of trust and humility!

Resolution:  Lord Jesus, I trust in You and in your Rock!