The Gaze of the Risen One: Rebuilding from Mercy

Listening to the Spirit

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word so that all your people may know and love You more and understand You better.

As I go about my day may I not forget the scriptures you have opened up for me. Help me to recognize how You want for me to apply Your Word to my daily life. Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word, may You enlighten my mind and enkindle in my heart a greater love for You and for others in my family and in the world.

Amen.

Listening to the Word

John 21:1–19

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

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 Simon Peter 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. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflection

“I am a sinner. That is the most accurate definition. And it’s not just a figure of speech, a literary device.” — Pope Francis

Remembering our beloved Pope Francis, in his 12-year papacy he became a beacon of mercy. He insisted on how much the Church is called to be a credible witness to mercy, making it the core of its mission by contemplating the face of Christ.

Today’s Gospel (John 21:1–19) presents mercy as the experience of an unconditional positive gaze. It is a gaze that does not judge but seeks out the positive resources in the other person that can be brought forth. Mercy can unleash its full power only when it is received by the other; in this sense, Peter had a real experience of mercy.

We are at the end of the Gospel of John, where we find Peter in a situation of failure—very similar to the moment when he first began to follow Jesus (cf. Luke 5). Failure accompanies Peter’s life (and that of every person) from beginning to end. And our life remains crushed under the weight of our failures unless we encounter someone’s unconditionally positive gaze that reactivates our inner strengths.

Peter tried to erase his failure by returning to fishing. It was his way of erasing his experience with Jesus—trying to return to his life before the encounter with Him, as if nothing had happened. But life’s circumstances immediately bring him back to the beginning of his journey with Jesus.

Jesus’ unconditionally positive gaze starts with the need of the other. The heart of Jesus is completely turned toward the need of the one who betrayed Him. It is truly the image of the Sacred Heart: Jesus who removes His heart from Himself in order to give it to me, as I stand before Him with my sin.

At the moment Peter feels seen by Jesus, he opens himself to an encounter. And supported by that merciful gaze, Peter finds the courage “to face the sea” again.

Through His unconditionally positive gaze toward Peter, Jesus wants to create a space—the space of mercy. The Church is the space of mercy, the space where each person, in their specific way of being a sinner, can feel unconditionally welcomed. Peter’s empty net is suddenly filled with 153 large fish—a mysterious number, but perhaps simply representing the great diversity of those caught in this net that is the Church. A net that does not tear despite these differences. And only a merciful gaze can ensure the unity and strength of the net. It is mercy that makes the Church, One.

The gaze of the Risen One upon Peter’s sin is the same gaze Christ casts on each of our sins. Jesus does not probe into the reasons for Peter’s betrayal, does not minimize his mistakes, does not induce guilt. Jesus reactivates Peter’s positive energies; He helps Peter see the goodness within him that Peter himself cannot yet see. Jesus starts from what Peter is willing to offer, positively. And Jesus agrees to begin from where Peter feels he can start again (cf. the third question): Jesus, too, uses the word phileo (“Do you love me, Peter?”). It’s as if Jesus accepts starting from the point where Peter, at that moment, feels able to begin again.

Peter’s response is: “Lord, you know.” Through that unconditionally positive gaze, Peter realizes that Jesus sees in him resources that he himself still cannot see—but that is the starting point. Mercy always pushes us to discover the good that has not yet been seen.

Now, Peter can once again respond to Jesus’ “Follow me,” but his response is no longer based on naive confidence in his own strength, as it was at the beginning. Now Peter responds to Jesus’ invitation because he has recognized his own limits. His response becomes more authentic, less idealized—it is a surrender.

It is clear, then, that no one can look at another with mercy if they have not first experienced that gaze upon themselves. This must be the foundation of any missionary life and of any journey for evangelization.

We pray:

Look with mercy upon your people, O Lord, and grant, we pray, that our reception of the Paschal Mystery may have a continuing effect in our minds and hearts. Amen.