The
following Homily was given by Fr. Herbert Nicholls on April 20th at
the Mother of the Light Convent
True faith is rooted
in humility which enables us to let go of ourselves, to let go of our own will,
and to let the power of Jesus work in us.
As we look at this
Gospel, Jesus very delicately and lovingly engages with Peter in a pivotal
moment that will enable Peter to see for himself his great love for Jesus and
the power of that love which is greater than any opposing power that might try
to keep him bound in the memory of his toxic shame and human failures.
The use of the word
“shame” is of significance. It is very different from “guilt” although we too
often use the terms interchangeably. “Guilt” might be called the voice of
conscience. It is the voice of God inviting us back to healthy relationship
with Him. “Shame”, on the other hand, is never healthy, nor from God. It is a
feeling of disruption, division, from God which makes us feel alienated. Shame
can persist even after guilt is healed.
Peter and the others
had already received the Holy Spirit, the gift of Forgiveness, peace, serenity,
and had been told to share these gifts with others. Whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven (Jn 20:23). The name of Jesus (Yeshua) has an authority
and a power that goes beyond simple memory. It is active and forceful and cuts
to the very heart.
They had been
pardoned, but something was still eating inside of Peter. His eyes were riveted
on the charcoal fire, perhaps reminiscent of the charcoal fire in the courtyard
of Caiphas on Great Friday. Perhaps due to this intense physical focus, Peter
was unable to recognize the “man” on the shore; at least not until John, who
now seemingly is in peace and serenity is able to recognize and to share with
Peter the identity of this “man”.
Peter, who was
stripped naked, probably customary for fishermen out on the waters, “cloths
himself”. The Greek text here makes a clear distinction which is lost in
English translation. The clothes with which Peter covers himself is not his,
his own, but his, that of another person, of Jesus’ cloak of
righteousness.
Now Peter makes a
deliberate decision to jump in the water and swim to the Lord. I firmly
believe this is no coincidence. I believe that the Evangelist in his final
chapter is drawing a deliberate contrast with the opening pages of Genesis,
where the first humans were deceived to fear and hide from God in shame. They
no longer felt worthy to be what God had created them to be: the image of God,
the children of God.
As Jesus stepped forth
from the stone-blocked tomb liberated from death; Peter was now released to
come forth from his stone-crusted shame, liberated from the power of evil.
Jesus’ desire for Peter and for all of us is to recognize while we are human
and make mistakes, the power of love is able to overcome a multitude of sins,
of evil choices.
This is the most
encouraging intervention that anyone can experience.
As Jesus takes Peter
deeper and deeper into the healing of shame, asking him three times, healing
that three-time denial at the first charcoal fire; Peter is brought to
understand that in spite of his imperfections, he could still serve Jesus
faithfully and fully.
Jesus seeks to have
this same exchange with us. To burn away the dross of doubt and to enkindle in
our hearts the fire of love. We will continue to make mistakes. Only God is
perfect. But as we publically declare our love for Jesus, and our love for the
power of His Name (Yeshua); that love will become visible proof of His ability
to make His kingdom of serenity and peace a reality on earth.