Third Sunday of Easter - April 10, 2016

Homily for April 10, 2016

Third Sunday of Easter

Our Knowledge of God Must Lead to Love of God

 

            I have a good friend who is a priest, and he smokes like a chimney. I can’t go anywhere with him without him lighting up almost immediately. We’ve had the “smoking” conversation more often than I care to recount. Those of you who are smokers – or who live with smokers – know what I’m talking about. A non-smoker will say, “Don’t you know you’re going to get cancer?” And the other person says, “Yeah, well, I can’t help it,” as they light up another cigarette. Even though they know all of the health risks, the smoker can’t change their behavior.

            Simply knowing something to be true doesn’t necessarily change us. My friend knows that smoking could cause cancer, but it’s not enough motivation to get him to change his old habits.

            We see Simon Peter in a similar situation. At this point, he had already seen the Risen Christ – twice. But his reaction is – “Wow, I’ve just seen my best friend, who died a horrific death, alive again. Let’s go fishing.” He just goes back to his old habits! Knowing that Jesus was alive did not change him. Peter was still stuck in his old ways, his old habits – perhaps he didn’t know what else to do.

            So Jesus appears to them once again. Remember, when Jesus first met Peter – three long years before – He did a similar fishing miracle, giving Peter another miraculous catch of fish. And on that occasion, Jesus told Peter, “From now on, you will be catching men.” He had given Peter his task, to go out and bring souls to faith in the Risen Christ – yet how quickly Peter had forgotten it, and gone back to his old ways as a fisher of fish!

            Jesus performs a miracle and Peter catches 153 fish. Why that exact number? That was the exact number of every known species of fish at that time – a symbol that Peter will be catching people from every single race, culture, language, country. His call is being renewed even in this miraculous catch of fish!

            So, recognizing the Lord, he throws on his clothes – another hugely significant action. His nakedness meant that he had not yet “clothed himself in Christ” – he was still wearing only what the old Adam wore, the old self. But once he encountered Christ again, he clothed himself in Christ.

            Then, after breakfast, the Lord challenges Peter in one of the most poignant stories of the Scriptures. Peter had betrayed Christ three times – so he now must affirm his love for the Lord three times. Jesus was giving Peter a second chance. He never gave up on the man, even after he betrayed the Lord, and abandoned his calling. But God didn’t rescind His gifts – He kept pursuing, pursuing, pursuing Peter’s allegiance, his heart.

            But the words Jesus used were significant, too. We have to understand that in Greek, there are four words for love. There is storge (love of things), eros (romantic love), philia (love of friends), and agape (total, self-giving love). Jesus asks Peter, “Do you agape Me?” – Do you love Me with your whole heart? Will you lay down your life for Me? But Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, You know that I philia love You – that I love You like a friend.” He can’t take the next step to say, “I give You everything, Lord.”

            So the Lord asks him again, “Peter, do you agape love Me?” But Peter can only respond, “Lord, I philia love you – like a friend.” So the third time, Jesus comes down to Peter’s level – “Peter, do you philia love Me?” This is why Peter is grieved – he knows that he cannot love the Lord as he ought to.

            And this, my friends, is the key to why Peter went back to fishing – because he loved the Lord, but not enough to leave everything behind. He was lacking love. Yes, there was friendly affection, but he was not yet willing to die for Christ.

            A priest at our seminary used to tell a great story. When this particular priest was in third grade, he had a problem – he really disliked a kid in his school named Theodore. Theodore was kind of a whiny, annoying kid, so every day, little Stephen would hit Theodore on the playground when Theodore was annoying him. And every day, Theodore would tell the teacher, and Stephen would get in trouble. After weeks and weeks of this, one day, Stephen was frustrated at himself – why was it he couldn’t stop hitting Theodore, that little brat? Why did he struggle with it so much? Finally, after the umpteenth time of getting in trouble, Stephen asked the principal, a wise old nun, “Why do I keep hitting Theodore? I know I’ll get in trouble for it – why do I keep doing it?” The nun replied, “When you love God more than you love hitting Theodore, you will stop.” He said that statement changed his life – and a couple weeks later Theodore moved away, so the temptation was gone! But he always remembered the lesson – when he loved God enough, he would change.

            Same with Peter – and same with you and I. Knowing a lot about God does not get us into Heaven. As Mother Angelica – the famous TV nun who just recently died – said, “Even the devil believes that God exists. Believing has to change the way we live.” Knowing that cigarettes cause cancer won’t prevent you from cancer, unless you give up smoking. Knowing about God won’t change you – unless you love Him.

            Do you love God? In a few moments, we’re going to all profess that we believe in Him – but do you love Him? Do you love Him with agape? Or do you love Him with Peter’s philia love – you’re a big fan of God, but you don’t actually want to love Him fully?

            What does it cost to love God fully, with agape love? Jesus tells Peter what it will cost – He prophesies Peter’s martyrdom. According to tradition, Peter was about to be crucified by the Emperor Nero for his faith in Christ, but the great Apostle felt unworthy do die in the same way that Christ died, so he asked to be crucified upside-down. In the end, Peter did love Christ with agape love, total self-giving love. Yes, loving God costs. It costs us our sins, it might cost us our friends, but I tell you that it is worth it. Because God’s love for you cost Him everything – and He has promised us joy, peace, strength, purpose, and everlasting life.

            In a moment, we will profess what we believe. But I ask you a question to ponder in your heart – yes, you believe in one God, the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit…but do you love them? And with what kind of love – philia, or agape?