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Apr
28

Gospel of John 21, Jesus Final Appearance

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Day 95, John 21

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO we’ve crossed the finish line!!!

and Many CONGRATS!!!  It is finished!  Our Gospel Marathon that we began on January 25!!!  Praise God for His Mercy and Goodness to us!

So many of us have grown closer to Jesus and transformed as we’ve learned more about Our Lord and ourselves!  We have grown into a community of Christians who live all over the world — and are united in the Lord through HIS WORD!

And what a great way to finish but to complete this beautiful journey on St. Catherine of Siena’s memorial day!!!!!

My book “Faith on Fire” is dedicated with her quote…

“When we are whom we are called to be ,we will set the world ablaze”

I truly believe that with a faith on fire we truly can be the lights so needed in this dark world — the lights of Christ that is!  For we do nothing on our own!

For more info on St. Catherine of Siena — Doctor of the Church go to http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=9

You will see that St. Catherine is the patron saint of fire protection —- I believe she protects the fire in all of us!!!  Praise the Lord!  Let us pray to her in a special way!!  She is all about being fired up!

If you are in the Philadelphia area there is a great talk tonight about Saint Catherine of Siena at 7pm at Nativity of Our Lord parish in Warminster PA — Dr. Carmina Chapp who is the academic dean of the Religious Studies Division at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary will be the speaker!

Calll 215-675-1925 to register so they can plan for seating and for more info!!!  Hope to see you there!

Today I see three final points:

  1. Do You Love Me?
  2. You Follow Me
  3. The World Could Not Contain

1- Do You Love Me?

We see right away that Jesus appears to the apostles and they do not recognize Him even after He told them to cast the nets on right side to make a catch — it was John who told Peter …

 ”It is the Lord”

And immediately we see Peter in his usual dramatic style jumping off the boat and into the water to hurry to Jesus!

They caught 153 fish — it is said that this number represented all the different species of fish that existed and also the number of nations in the world at the time…. very interesting — a number like this cannot pass by without meaning — we know that!

Jesus ate with them and gave them the bread and fish to eat — this was the third time Jesus had appeared to the apostles!

 And on this third time it is no coincidence that Jesus spoke to Peter after breakfast …

Jesus asks Peter three times… “DO you Love Me?”

It is said that the three times was one for each of the three denials Peter had made…

Here was Jesus response each time…

Feed My Lambs

Tend My Sheep

Feed My Sheep

Feed my sheep means the little ones — the ones immature in their faith — just staring to grow –

Tend My Sheep — we are taught means Governing — so this is another place where we see Peter being given the authority to govern and lead the sheep!

Feed My Sheep — means the mature ones — Feed them!

How?

With the Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist — and with the Scriptures His Word!!!

Peter says “Lord you know that I love you!” but honestly Jesus is thinking — show me!

Peter cracks me up because given what just took place — how could He blame Jesus for wanting to make sure — do you blame Him for checking Peter out?

He asks each time for each of the denials — now this is not the kind of love we tend to throw around — Love you!!!

Today the World throws around the word LOVE — LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!  As Fr. Bill would say!

NO this kind of love is ready to die for JESUS CHRIST!

We see Jesus here lead right into that…

2- YOU Follow ME!

Jesus says to Peter when you are older people will drag you off where you don’t want to go!

This signifies the kind of death that He was to suffer —

No step back for a minute… Jesus says… Follow me and then YOU follow me!

Follow me really translates in Greek, to do what I do — and be on my coatails!  So if I die on the cross then you die on the cross!

So I ask you is anyone you know really following Jesus? 

Then Jesus knew that Peter was losing his focus — he started to focus on the others and not what he was supposed to do —

the focus was on — all of a sudden — the beloved disciple!  The one Jesus loved! 

I wonder if that bugged the boys that there was one Jesus favored?

Did they see it as part of the plan — did they see it make sense that John was the only one at the cross?

Why did Peter ask… “Lord what about Him?”  Meaning John!

Jesus asks Peter a question… “What if I want him to remain until I come”

IE “None of your business — your business is to follow me!!!”

And even though they did not understand they started to spread the rumor that John was not going to die –

When Jesus says “What concern of it is yours?” it reminds me of the Wedding Feast of Cana where Jesus says to His Mother — what concern is it of mine?

This really meant …what would you have me do? — now here I think Jesus was trying to help them understand what they had to do — how they had to remain in His love -

– and how they had to focus in on the task at hand — as so many souls were attached to this work of redemption and it continues on today!

3- The World Could Not Contain!

You see they had no idea the souls that would be saved by their actions!  Even the denials were used to strengthen faith!

 Every time we sing Faith of Our Fathers in Church I think of these great men and the women who gave their lives so that we would live on free in the Lord Jesus!

Here we see the final note that John testifies — HE is our example of faith — to be a true witness means that you are willing to die for the Gospel — and you will give testimony that He is alive!

Just as I have written before — testimony was everything back then — for something to be true there had to be someone who would testify to it as true —

so here we see John — testifying –

and also saying that

“There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written”

This is where we as Catholics truly can say that we cannot believe that Divine Revelation is the Bible Alone!

NO we believe that many of these “other things“ have been handed down in the deposit of faith orally and also in the Early Church Father’s writings etc..

So when our separated brothers and sisters discuss the only authority being the bible — who interprets it?  There are so many ways to interpret the bible -

- that the authority must be Jesus Christ through His Vicar on earth the Pope and this authority passed down to the bishops in communion with Him!

Praise God this is such good news — we have a faith that we can believe in and totally submit our intellect to — when we make an act of faith!

John does in fact die… but not on the cross — like the others — he was exiled to the island of Patmos at an old age I believe —

DIVINE REVELATION is a PERSON — JESUS —- it ends with the death of the last apostle which would be John —

SO from the book of Revelation — the last book — there is no new Revelation of who Jesus is or what you need for salvation!

It is all in here and in all of Divine Revelation which includes Sacred Tradition!

I look forward to continuing our Journey —- This has been a true pleasure and a transformation!

Do you find the Mass is coming alive for you?  Can you hear the words better?

The Gospels at daily Mass have all been from John these past few weeks!

I would like to continue — so for the next three days I will post the last three chapters of JOHN –

Friday 19 — Saturday 20 – Sunday 21

And then we will begin Acts of the Apostles and move through the New Testament!

We have been through so much with these apostles — I can’t wait to see how they work with the faith and grace they have received by the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT– and to watch the church grow –

I truly believe that the Lord will continue to bless this study!  And now the Holy Spirit especially!

So we will hike up the mountain with the Acts of the Apostles — I will post what we will study for the day — and we will get another rhythm going — I believe this is what the Lord wants so we will follow through –

I will provide some kind of vehicle to receive any donations that you feel prompted to give toward this work — I’ll keep you posted on this!

In the meantime the word is given in abundance and freely — so remember that I am blessed by the sharing and by transformational testimonies —–

If you wouldn’t mind — in honor of our third point on our last day of the Gospels — testimonies…

if you could please post — even if you have never posted — what you got out of this bible study — what you feel like you learned — and how you feel this has transformed you — through God’s grace!

That would be great!  I will share that I don’t think I really understood the Gospel as I do now –

I am a lector in my parish and I truly feel that when I proclaim the word — I have such a better understanding of what I am reading that it comes out differently!

I have been blessed by the contributions in the postings each day —I feel closer to Jesus and to the apostles than before!

What did you learn and how did you tranform?  Please share!

God bless you!

Tags: ,

  • Anonymous

    I am so glad we will continue tis Bible reading and praying and study. It has really helped me to enjoy Mass in a different way. I was part of the ctholic carismatic renewal in Puerto Rico. From the beginning. I was 18 years old and was the singer in the music ministry. The Mass then was 2 hrs long and sometimes more, and I really felt every part of it and I was so blessed. But as I moved to other sities throught my life and, hence, other parishes, I didn’t find that fire in the priests or in the Mass.

    After this 95 day experience, I found that the fire within me is what makes the difference. I can enjoy Mass, even if the celebrant and the people around me cannot. So now, I have no excuse, and I don’t want to give an aexcuse.

    This last chapter, to me, is about Peter. I just love Peter. I think Pope Jhon Paul II reminds me of Peter sometimes. Strong, decided and very human. But passionate in his love for Jesus and His Work. I can’t wait to read about him in the Acts.

    The first thing that strikes me is that after being out fishing all night and not getting anything, Jesus, who they don’t recognize at this point, tells them to throw the nets to the right and the obey. They must have been tired and dying to come ashore, but they obeyed this unknown man. So I am gessing that even though they didn’t recognize Him, his voice must have had power for them to obey so willingly. And they were surprised with what they cought.

    Then, when John says it is Jesus, Peter jumped ino the sea and ran to Him. I love that.

    Then Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. I hink this is such a show of love! After Peter denied Him, he cried “amargamente” as it translates in my version of the Bible in Spanish. “Amargamente” means bitterly and sad. The meaning in Spanish is really sad, desperately sad. And Jesus is soooooooooooooooo good, that He gives Peter the oportunity to make up for that directly to Him. Remember Peter never saw Jesus again after denying Him, because He was crucified. So He didn’t have the oportunity to ask Jesus for forgiveness. The other two times they met were with a lot of people, so he probably didn’t have time to apologyze. Now he is given this oportunity, in front of all, and He confirms, in front of all, that Peter is to feed and tend His sheep. Awesome!

    And then, right after this beautiful moment, Peter, the man who is to tend His sheep, is asking about John. TWo seconds after!! I can relate to that. And I love Jesus’ answer. None of your business, I just established my relationship with you, and what I want you to do, and I will establish My relationship with others as I deem appropriate . . . At least that is what I understood. O my goodness, how many time I have cought myself telling the Lord that so and so has so much, even when his/her actions are so wrong, and I have to strugle, even when I am faithful. I sometimes forget about the cross. And JEsus told Peter – there will be times when you will be led to where you don’t want to go. And I have been answered too, I just have to keep focused on the way He wants me to follow and forget about the others, because I don’t know what is going on in their lives and between them and Jesus.

    And the last thing that hit me in this chapter is that many more things that have been told happened, that the whole world would not be enough to write them. In just three years! And still, people who saw them or heard of them wouldn’t believe! I praise God for all His techings!

  • Anonymous

    I forgot to add something. I really urge those of you who read this blog to share what you feel. Even one line. People who read are enriched by any comment, mor ethan you think. But you will be blessed. When you write, you put in words what you are thinking and you will find it will help you understand what you are feeling a lot better. You will be truly blessed. So I urge to add a comment and bless us all, you and everyone else that reads the comment. God bles you!

  • cuquilavergne

    I am so glad we will continue tis Bible reading and praying and study. It has really helped me to enjoy Mass in a different way. I was part of the ctholic carismatic renewal in Puerto Rico. From the beginning. I was 18 years old and was the singer in the music ministry. The Mass then was 2 hrs long and sometimes more, and I really felt every part of it and I was so blessed. But as I moved to other sities throught my life and, hence, other parishes, I didn't find that fire in the priests or in the Mass.

    After this 95 day experience, I found that the fire within me is what makes the difference. I can enjoy Mass, even if the celebrant and the people around me cannot. So now, I have no excuse, and I don't want to give an aexcuse.

    This last chapter, to me, is about Peter. I just love Peter. I think Pope Jhon Paul II reminds me of Peter sometimes. Strong, decided and very human. But passionate in his love for Jesus and His Work. I can't wait to read about him in the Acts.

    The first thing that strikes me is that after being out fishing all night and not getting anything, Jesus, who they don't recognize at this point, tells them to throw the nets to the right and the obey. They must have been tired and dying to come ashore, but they obeyed this unknown man. So I am gessing that even though they didn't recognize Him, his voice must have had power for them to obey so willingly. And they were surprised with what they cought.

    Then, when John says it is Jesus, Peter jumped ino the sea and ran to Him. I love that.

    Then Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. I hink this is such a show of love! After Peter denied Him, he cried “amargamente” as it translates in my version of the Bible in Spanish. “Amargamente” means bitterly and sad. The meaning in Spanish is really sad, desperately sad. And Jesus is soooooooooooooooo good, that He gives Peter the oportunity to make up for that directly to Him. Remember Peter never saw Jesus again after denying Him, because He was crucified. So He didn't have the oportunity to ask Jesus for forgiveness. The other two times they met were with a lot of people, so he probably didn't have time to apologyze. Now he is given this oportunity, in front of all, and He confirms, in front of all, that Peter is to feed and tend His sheep. Awesome!

    And then, right after this beautiful moment, Peter, the man who is to tend His sheep, is asking about John. TWo seconds after!! I can relate to that. And I love Jesus' answer. None of your business, I just established my relationship with you, and what I want you to do, and I will establish My relationship with others as I deem appropriate . . . At least that is what I understood. O my goodness, how many time I have cought myself telling the Lord that so and so has so much, even when his/her actions are so wrong, and I have to strugle, even when I am faithful. I sometimes forget about the cross. And JEsus told Peter – there will be times when you will be led to where you don't want to go. And I have been answered too, I just have to keep focused on the way He wants me to follow and forget about the others, because I don't know what is going on in their lives and between them and Jesus.

    And the last thing that hit me in this chapter is that many more things that have been told happened, that the whole world would not be enough to write them. In just three years! And still, people who saw them or heard of them wouldn't believe! I praise God for all His techings!

  • cuquilavergne

    I forgot to add something. I really urge those of you who read this blog to share what you feel. Even one line. People who read are enriched by any comment, mor ethan you think. But you will be blessed. When you write, you put in words what you are thinking and you will find it will help you understand what you are feeling a lot better. You will be truly blessed. So I urge to add a comment and bless us all, you and everyone else that reads the comment. God bles you!

  • Anonymous

    I have grown to love the Bible from sheer indifference for most of my life towards it. I love the parts when Jesus is with disciples at dinner or at a wedding (Cana) being human; taking a well deserved rest from preaching and teaching.
    I feel closer to Mary as I read the chapters – I could feel her heartaches as HE underwent HIS agony and death. I agree with Marie in that when I hear the Gospels read at Mass I feel more a part of everything because I have read it and talked about it. I’m sort of inside the periphery, in the herd that followed Jesus around during his life on earth!
    As much as I have enjoyed bible study groups; this is completely different, each of us gives our own take on what we are reading so that at the end of the day we have a well rounded idea of what happened. It is more personal.
    thank you Marie, Cuqui, Ann, Marion, Mary, FrKen and all who have contributed to my understanding.

  • Anonymous

    i have read in several books that “they” tried to burn st.john and “it didnt work” (whatever that means.) we saw st.john’s tomb in ephesus and were told there that when he was 98 Jesus told him it was time to go. he asked Jesus for one more day so that he could celebrate sunday mass and after mass, he went and laid in his tomb and died. smoke began to come out of the tomb and healed people.

    i dont know if that is true.

    and st.peter was running away from rome in the appian way during the persecutions and he met Jesus. peter asked him: Lord, where are you going? (Quo Vadis?) Jesus said: I am going to rome to be crucified again to take your place.” and st.peter turned around and went back to be crucified.

    marie, i cant believe we started in jan. i have learned so much from these sessions. thank you. God Bless you! and God Bless all those you read and those who comment.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thanks for adding that — I wonder if that is in the Acts of the Apostles… I remember watching the movie Quo Vadis — incredible stuff —
    I can’t even imagine what they went through after Jesus died — I pray that we are strengthened by this Gospel journey and will be even more so in the Acts of the Apostles!
    Thanks to you for all your contributions and insights!! God bless you!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thank you Judy!!! You have grown like a Lebanon Cedar planted in the house of the Lord — may you continue to reach new heights in the Lord! Thank you for being here!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen Sister — It really makes things real for us when we write what we think! Thank you for your contributions!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    THis is incredible insight — and so perfect a connection to real life — that is why Jesus chose Peter!

  • judystefencavage

    I have grown to love the Bible from sheer indifference for most of my life towards it. I love the parts when Jesus is with disciples at dinner or at a wedding (Cana) being human; taking a well deserved rest from preaching and teaching.
    I feel closer to Mary as I read the chapters – I could feel her heartaches as HE underwent HIS agony and death. I agree with Marie in that when I hear the Gospels read at Mass I feel more a part of everything because I have read it and talked about it. I'm sort of inside the periphery, in the herd that followed Jesus around during his life on earth!
    As much as I have enjoyed bible study groups; this is completely different, each of us gives our own take on what we are reading so that at the end of the day we have a well rounded idea of what happened. It is more personal.
    thank you Marie, Cuqui, Ann, Marion, Mary, FrKen and all who have contributed to my understanding.

  • marionraffa

    i have read in several books that “they” tried to burn st.john and “it didnt work” (whatever that means.) we saw st.john's tomb in ephesus and were told there that when he was 98 Jesus told him it was time to go. he asked Jesus for one more day so that he could celebrate sunday mass and after mass, he went and laid in his tomb and died. smoke began to come out of the tomb and healed people.

    i dont know if that is true.

    and st.peter was running away from rome in the appian way during the persecutions and he met Jesus. peter asked him: Lord, where are you going? (Quo Vadis?) Jesus said: I am going to rome to be crucified again to take your place.” and st.peter turned around and went back to be crucified.

    marie, i cant believe we started in jan. i have learned so much from these sessions. thank you. God Bless you! and God Bless all those you read and those who comment.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/GRVIYDH4IAYKKE3RDIIMD4QT6M Charles

    Well congratulations to all who foll0wed through these ninety+ days of the gospels. It hAS BEEN A MOVING EXPERIENcE. Thoose who put more into it, received the most out of it.

    The words “feed my sheep” of the last chapter tell us of what there is left to do, and has been done in this program.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thanks for adding that — I wonder if that is in the Acts of the Apostles… I remember watching the movie Quo Vadis — incredible stuff —
    I can't even imagine what they went through after Jesus died — I pray that we are strengthened by this Gospel journey and will be even more so in the Acts of the Apostles!
    Thanks to you for all your contributions and insights!! God bless you!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thank you Judy!!! You have grown like a Lebanon Cedar planted in the house of the Lord — may you continue to reach new heights in the Lord! Thank you for being here!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Amen Sister — It really makes things real for us when we write what we think! Thank you for your contributions!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    THis is incredible insight — and so perfect a connection to real life — that is why Jesus chose Peter!

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/GRVIYDH4IAYKKE3RDIIMD4QT6M Charles

    Well congratulations to all who foll0wed through these ninety+ days of the gospels. It hAS BEEN A MOVING EXPERIENcE. Thoose who put more into it, received the most out of it.

    The words “feed my sheep” of the last chapter tell us of what there is left to do, and has been done in this program.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thanks Charles! I hope you will be continuing on with us in ACTS!! You commentary is always very much appreciated and enriching to all!!! Thank you for being with us! A true apostle!

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    Thanks Charles! I hope you will be continuing on with us in ACTS!! You commentary is always very much appreciated and enriching to all!!! Thank you for being with us! A true apostle!

  • Anonymous

    Dear Family in study…this has been a wonderful journey to help enrich my faith. Truthfully, I do not really have inspiration to “read” the bible as much as I try…although I am so inspired to have the word read to me as in the Mass…then I really love to hear the word…also having company with you all in this bible study has been so helpful to my obstacle to “read” the bible…I got so much out of this study because the way the chapters are explained by Marie has made them meaningful to me. I think I have also grown to be able to defend our catholic faith on some better grounds…especially I never feel competent to explain to an objectionable protestant why the Bible needs to be translated by theologians and not left to our own limitations or possible errors. I had a protestant tell me that the Bible is the only authority and I was so perplexed by their finality of this belief. How can one even begin to suggest that there is a fullness of Truth that cannot be denied in the authority of our Holy Father …I mean certainly to know and love the the bible as the living Word is to know and love Christ Jesus..and isnt this enough for some?
    THank you for sharing the interpretations of the Word in the light of our beloved Catholic Faith …this is a great gift to me.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    You are so welcome and thank you for being with us — I am hoping you join us for the Acts of the Apostles!!!
    Peace!!! YOU are so right on this!

  • Anonymous

    Well Marie you’ve enlighten me again by writing about Peter and Jesus asking him 3 times If He loves Him, and what the three statements mean : feed my sheep-means Little ones immature starting to grow. Tend my sheep- means governing. and again Feed my sheep-Means mature ones-feed them!!!!!!!!!!!! I love when Jesus calls the disciples Children, how endearing!!!!! I always wonder why 153 fish were caught and again you have the answer!!!!!! Amazing you are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! But the important thing I get is : Remain in Love and follow me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • PBoJ

    Dear Family in study…this has been a wonderful journey to help enrich my faith. Truthfully, I do not really have inspiration to “read” the bible as much as I try…although I am so inspired to have the word read to me as in the Mass…then I really love to hear the word…also having company with you all in this bible study has been so helpful to my obstacle to “read” the bible…I got so much out of this study because the way the chapters are explained by Marie has made them meaningful to me. I think I have also grown to be able to defend our catholic faith on some better grounds…especially I never feel competent to explain to an objectionable protestant why the Bible needs to be translated by theologians and not left to our own limitations or possible errors. I had a protestant tell me that the Bible is the only authority and I was so perplexed by their finality of this belief. How can one even begin to suggest that there is a fullness of Truth that cannot be denied in the authority of our Holy Father …I mean certainly to know and love the the bible as the living Word is to know and love Christ Jesus..and isnt this enough for some?
    THank you for sharing the interpretations of the Word in the light of our beloved Catholic Faith …this is a great gift to me.

  • http://FiredUpCatholics.com/ Marie Joseph

    You are so welcome and thank you for being with us — I am hoping you join us for the Acts of the Apostles!!!
    Peace!!! YOU are so right on this!

  • marylatini

    Well Marie you've enlighten me again by writing about Peter and Jesus asking him 3 times If He loves Him, and what the three statements mean : feed my sheep-means Little ones immature starting to grow. Tend my sheep- means governing. and again Feed my sheep-Means mature ones-feed them!!!!!!!!!!!! I love when Jesus calls the disciples Children, how endearing!!!!! I always wonder why 153 fish were caught and again you have the answer!!!!!! Amazing you are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! But the important thing I get is : Remain in Love and follow me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!