In the first reading, we see the earliest disciples trusting in the name of Jesus and doing powerful and miraculous deeds. The importance of this was emphasized in my diagonal formation. We were asked, “What do you have to offer people?” Without Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, I bring nothing of spiritual value to those I am called to serve. I thought to myself, this is certainly true for a deacon but not for a priest or bishop who can take people the sacraments. However, upon further reflection, it seems to me that bishops and priests are not really different in this regard from deacons or laity. Without the name of Jesus, what of spiritual value do they have to offer people? I work with R.C.I.A. In my home parish and just about every year the main hang up for some folks is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. “I don’t feel comfortable confessing my sins to another person” or “why do I need to” or “can’t I just confess my sins directly to God,” etc.? Without going over everything I discuss with them, I ask them to envision Jesus sitting in the chair next to them. “Could you confess your sins to him,” I ask. They always say, Yes. Then I emphasize that this is exactly what they will do in the confessional. They will confess their sins to Jesus, represented by the priest, and the priest, in the name of Jesus, standing in for Jesus, will absolve them of their sins. Jesus is the only human being who can forgive sins but he has chosen to continue his ministry of forgiveness through his chosen representatives. It is only in his name and by his power that we can do anything.

In the Gospel reading, I see myself in so many ways. Jesus is Risen and we have seen him but today I just want to go fishing. Like the disciples, I frequently have the same experience of catching nothing. When it comes to me, the fish are practicing social distancing. But the Lord never gives up on this sometimes spiritually lethargic deacon and he appears again and again. On many occasions of those appearances, they come with a charcoal fire. Those fires remind me of the times I have denied Jesus, just like Peter did standing at a charcoal fire. There are two charcoal fires in John’s Gospel. At the first, Peter denies Jesus three times. At the second, Jesus invites. Peter to breakfast and directs him three times to care for and tend his flock. It is around a charcoal fire that Jesus does his purifying work on Peter but it is through the fire of the Holy Spirit that the work is done.

If the first reading suggests that we have nothing to offer others, except through the name of Jesus, the Gospel reading makes it clear that this includes ourselves. I cannot forgive me of my denials of Jesus. I cannot fix me. Only Jesus can do this through the power and work of the Holy Spirit. The beautiful thing about it is that he is always willing to bring us mercy and compassion. I deny him three times and then he invites me to breakfast.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy endures forever.