Year 35 No.
60 3rd Sunday of Easter (C) — White
ENCOUNTER
with
God
by Fr. Eli Rowdy Y. Lumbo, SJ
I n today’s Gospel, we read of the
Risen Lord’s third appearance.
He reveals himself to his disciples
when they are fishing. They do
not recognize him immediately,
perhaps because they are too
focused on their work to see him.
Or maybe what hinders them is
their disappointment because
they see Jesus’ death as a failure
or because they are blinded by
their grief over his death.
This happens to many of
us. We fail to recognize God’s
presence because we are dealing
with pain or disappointment.
We deny the fact of his love
when we are in grief or suffering.
We negate the realities of Jesus’
presence and of miracles in the
ordinary. But despite all these,
God reminds us that he is with us.
His mercy will penetrate the pain
and doubt. His love will slice
through the grief and suffering.
His light will pierce through
darkness and fear. And at that
very moment, we will have our
experience of the risen Lord!!!
This is what I have witnessed
in my years of doing prison
ministry at the New Bilibid
Prison. Many of the prisoners,
especially in the first weeks
and months of incarceration,
dwell on the loss of freedom, on
separation from family, and on
the fear of what might happen to
them as they serve time behind
bars. Some decry the injustice
or dwell on their anguish. Yet,
whatever the reason, many find
God. They find God in the cold
cells, amid the congestion or
in the boredom. But find God
they do! Or more precisely, they
allow themselves to experience
God because the fact is, God
is always with us. At any time,
God waits for us, patiently,
courteously, and lovingly. No
crime or sin is sufficient reason
for God to abandon us. Jesus
appears to them in their shame
and humiliation, in their anguish
and sorrow.
I remember the story of a
particular inmate. He was a
scholar at a prestigious university.
Coming from the province,
he became envious of his
classmates. He wanted to have
May 1, 2022
what they had. He found drugs
as an easy way to get what he
wanted. He resorted to selling
drugs which led to his downfall.
He was caught and imprisoned.
He avoided everyone, even his
family. In his mind, he was at
fault. He believed that since he
was the only one to blame, he
had to suffer the consequences
alone. But in prison and in his
self-imposed isolation, God made
his way to him. His family found
him. He told them to leave him
alone, but they told him not to
deny them the choice to love
him. For years he suffered, but his
family stood by him. In allowing
himself to be loved despite his
shame and guilt, he experienced
the love of God.
Sometimes, all it takes to
experience God is to look more
closely at things, to be more
sensitive to our surroundings, and
to be more aware of ourselves
and the world around us. When
we do so, we will realize God
is truly alive and we are never
alone. Jesus is alive! He is with
us. May we realize this always.
 THE INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Antiphon
(Cf. Ps 66 [65]:1–2)
(Recited when there is no opening song)
Cry out with joy to God, all the
earth; O sing to the glory of his
name. O render him glorious
praise, alleluia.
Greeting
(The sign of the cross is made here)
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
Introduction
(The priest may address the assembly
using these or similar words)
P—Our belief in the Resurrection
comes from the witness of the
apostles. The risen Jesus appears
to his followers, to them who
ran away from him during his
Passion, and calls them back to
be “fishers of men.” In particular,
Jesus rehabilitates their leader
Simon Peter. Jesus asks of him a
threefold confession of love to
make up for his threefold denial
at the Passion. Simon Peter, who
trusts no longer in his capabilities
but in the Lord who knows the
human heart, is then entrusted
with the care of the Lord’s flock.
Penitential Act
P—Brethren (brothers and
sisters), let us acknowledge our
sins, and so prepare ourselves to
celebrate the sacred mysteries.
(Pause)
All—I confess to almighty
God and to you, my brothers
and sisters, that I have greatly
sinned, in my thoughts and in
my words, in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
(strike your breast) through
my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary
ever-Virgin, all the Angels and
Saints, and you, my brothers
and sisters, to pray for me to
the Lord our God.
P—May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All—Amen.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
P—Christ, have mercy.
All—Christ, have mercy.
P—Lord, have mercy.
All—Lord, have mercy.
Gloria
All—Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of
good will. We praise you, we
bless you, we adore you, we
glorify you, we give you thanks
for your great glory, Lord God,
heavenly King, O God, almighty
Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only
Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb
of God, Son of the Father, you
take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us; you take away
the sins of the world, receive our
prayer; you are seated at the right
hand of the Father, have mercy
on us. For you alone are the Holy
One, you alone are the Lord, you
alone are the Most High, Jesus
Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the
glory of God the Father. Amen.
Collect
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
May your people exult
for ever, O God, in renewed
youthfulness of spirit, so that,
rejoicing now in the restored
glory of our adoption, we may
look forward in confident hope
to the rejoicing of the day of
resurrection.
Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, God, for ever
and ever.
All—Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading
(Acts 5:27–32, 40b–41)(Sit)
Though ordered by the Jewish
religious authorities to stop
teaching in Jesus’ name, Peter and
the apostles continue to preach
Christ who rose from the dead.
They cannot be silenced because
the Spirit speaks through them.
A reading from the Acts of the
Apostles
WHEN the captain and the court
officers had brought the apostles
in and made them stand before
the Sanhedrin, the high priest
questioned them, “We gave you
strict orders, did we not, to stop
teaching in that name? Yet you
have filled Jerusalem with your
teaching and want to bring this
man’s blood upon us.” But Peter
and the apostles said in reply, “We
must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised
Jesus, though you had him killed
by hanging him on a tree. God
exalted him at his right hand as
leader and savior to grant Israel
repentance and forgiveness of
sins. We are witnesses of these
things, as is the Holy Spirit whom
God has given to those who obey
him.”
The Sanhedrin ordered the
apostles to stop speaking in the
name of Jesus, and dismissed
them. So they left the presence of
the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they
had been found worthy to suffer
dishonor for the sake of the name.
—The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 30)
R—I will praise you, Lord, for
you have rescued me.
Allan A. Puno
  
  
C F C
       
I will praise you, Lord, for
 
B♭ F C
      
3
  
you have res cued me.
1. I will extol you, O Lord, for
you drew me clear/ and did not
let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord, you brought me up from
the netherworld;/ you preserved
me from among those going
down into the pit. (R)
2. Sing praise to the Lord, you
his faithful ones,/ and give thanks
to his holy name./ For his anger
lasts but a moment;/ a lifetime,
his good will./ At nightfall,
weeping enters in,/ but with the
dawn, rejoicing. (R)
3. Hear, O Lord, and have pity
on me;/ O Lord, be my helper./
You changed my mourning into
dancing;/ O L ord , my God,
forever will I give you thanks. (R)
Second Reading (Rv 5:11–14)
John pictures the risen Jesus as the
Lamb slain for the sins of the world
but glorified and worshipped by
every creature.
A reading from the Book of
Revelation
I, JOHN, looked and heard the
voices of many angels who
surrounded the throne and the
living creatures and the elders.
They were countless in number,
and they cried out in a loud
voice: “Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive power and
riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.”
Then I heard every creature
in heaven and on earth and
under the earth and in the sea,
everything in the universe, cry
out: “To the one who sits on
the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor, glory and
might, forever and ever.” The
four living creatures answered,
“Amen,” and the elders fell down
and worshiped.
— The word of the Lord.
All—Thanks be to God.
Alleluia (Stand)
All—Alleluia, Alleluia. Christ
is risen, creator of all; he has
shown pity on all people.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Gospel (Jn 21:1–19)
P—A reading from the holy
Gospel according to John
All—Glory to you, O Lord.
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 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.”
— The Gospel of the Lord.
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ.
Homily (Sit)
Profession of Faith (Stand)
All — I believe in God, the
Father almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth, and in Jesus
Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
(At the words that follow, up to and
including the Virgin Mary, all bow.)
who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was
buried; he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again
from the dead; he ascended
into heaven, and is seated at
the right hand of God the Father
almighty; from there he will
come to judge the living and
the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and
life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
P—Father, we implore your
gracious help that we may
proclaim the death and
resurrection of Jesus with St.
Peter’s bold conviction. In need
and with joyful heart, let us pray:
R—Lord, keep us in your love.
C—For the Church, the People
of God: may we experience
the power of the Resurrection,
especially in times of weakness,
trials, and great difficulties. We
pray: (R)
C—For those who exercise
authority and service in the
government: may their love
for Jesus continue to deepen
and be a perennial source of
inspiration and strength in their
service to God’s people. We
pray: (R)
C—For the upcoming elections:
may everyone forsake the
politics of money, fame, and
patronage and elect to office
leaders who are competent,
honest, and with a sincere
desire to serve. We pray: (R)
C—For those who are burdened
by sickness and sudden death of
their loved ones: may the Lord
give them protection, comfort,
and strength to bear all things.
We pray: (R)
C—Let us pray for the urgent
concerns of our community
and our personal intentions
(pause). We pray: (R)
P—God our Father, you restored
us to yourself through the
resurrection of your Son. Hear
our prayers and streng­then us
in giving witness to our Easter
faith.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
LITURGY OF
THE EUCHARIST
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
P—Pray, brethren…
All—May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands for the
praise and glory of his name, for
our good and the good of all his
holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P—Receive, O Lord, we pray,
these offerings of your exultant
Church, and, as you have
given her cause for such great
gladness, grant also that the
gifts we bring may bear fruit in
perpetual happiness.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
Preface IV of Easter
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
P—Lift up your hearts.
All—We lift them up to the Lord.
P—Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.
All—It is right and just.
P—It is truly right and just, our
duty and our salvation, at all
times to acclaim you, O Lord,
but in this time above all to laud
you yet more gloriously, when
Christ our Passover has been
sacrificed.
For, with the old order
destroyed, a universe cast down
is renewed, and integrity of life
is restored to us in Christ.
Therefore, overcome with
paschal joy, every land, every
people exults in your praise and
even the heavenly Powers, with
the angelic hosts, sing together
the unending hymn of your
glory, as they acclaim:
All—Holy, Holy, Holy... (Kneel)
Acclamation (Stand)
All—Save us, Savior of the
world, for by your Cross and
Resurrection you have set us
free.
THE COMMUNION RITE
The Lord’s Prayer
All—Our Father…
P—Deliver us, Lord…
All—For the kingdom, the
power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Invitation to Peace
Invitation to Communion
(Kneel)
P—Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper
of the Lamb.
All—Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my
roof, but only say the word and
my soul shall be healed.
Communion Antiphon
(Cf. Jn 21:12–13)
Jesus said to his disciples: Come
and eat. And he took the bread,
and gave it to them, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
(Kneel)
P—Let us pray. (Pause)
Look with kindness upon
your people, O Lord, and grant,
we pray, that those you were
pleased to renew by eternal
mysteries may attain in their
flesh the incorruptible glory of
the resurrection.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
THE CONCLUDING RITES
P—The Lord be with you.
All—And with your spirit.
Prayer over the People
P—Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause)
May your family always
rejoice together, O God, over
the mysteries of redemption
they have celebrated, and grant
its members the perseverance
to attain the effects that flow
from them.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
P—And may the blessing of
almighty God, the Father, and
the Son, (†) and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain
with you for ever.
All—Amen.
Dismissal
P—Go in peace, glorifying the
Lord by your life.
All—Thanks be to God.