Easter Sunday 3, C May 1, 2022
Fr. Alexander Albert St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette
One Hundred Million. That’s how many angels John describes here. The second reading is from Revelation, where John is having a vision of heaven. Our translation says they were “countless,” but the literal Greek is “ten thousand ten thousands and thousands of thousands.” That’s at least 100 million. Of course, it’s kind of like when kids say “a million million.” What matters isn’t the literal number, but that it’s really big, countless even.
What are all these angels doing, though? And why are there so many? There are so many because that’s just how great our God is. As for what they’re doing? They’re praising God. They are worshipping Him. John is having this vision on the Lord’s day – Sunday – so he’s getting a sneak peak at what happens in heaven every Sunday.
And look at how they worship. All those 100 million and more angels cry out at the same time “worthy is the lamb that was slain.” Ever been to a concert, a ball game, or a rally where everyone shouts something at the same time? Remember… think about how loud that can get. And that’s just thousands even at the really big events. Now imagine 100s of millions of people shouting the same thing at the same time.
And for what? God’s goodness… but God is always good… worthy is the lamb as it says. What about his goodness? Well, this weekend, those hundreds of millions of angels are shouting with joy. They are shouting with joy because six young people were anointed with the Holy Spirit this past Friday night and conformed more closely to Jesus Christ, the lamb who was slain. They are crying out in full voice because mere children are being united to God himself in holy communion. Do you hear that dear children, heaven is partying because you get to receive first communion. Picture a hundred million angels shouting with joy when, in a few minutes, I lift up that piece of bread and it turns into God, into the lamb who was slain. Imagine how excited they will be when you receive the host – the body and blood of Christ – for the first time!
Worthy is the lamb who was slain! But why, why was he slain? And why does that make him worthy? Because he is God made man. He is living proof that the infinite God loved us so much that he became human. His teachings show us the truth about God and ourselves. His death paid the debt of sin. His resurrection proves that we don’t need to be afraid of death. But even while still on earth, there was one other thing that Jesus couldn’t stop doing while he was here. Feeding people. He just loved a good party and good food. The wedding feast at Cana, countless dinner parties at people’s houses. Feeding 5000 people with a few loaves and fish. Feeding another 4000 people with a few loves and fish, miraculously multiplying food just so he could feed people. The last thing he did before he died was have a meal with his Apostles where he declared that bread and wine actually were his body and blood in hidden form. He liked feeding people so much, he gave himself to us as food.
Then he comes back from the dead and what does he do? Start feeding people again! The road to Emmaus ends with a meal. He appears in the upper room during dinner. Today we see him cook breakfast for his disciples. Jesus loves to feed us. Yet, we know he’s about to go back to heaven. What will he do then? How will he satisfy our hunger and satisfy his desire to feed us?
The answer to that is why we have this scene with Peter. The last time Peter was at a charcoal fire, he denied Jesus three times. But Jesus loves Peter and he loves forgiving people just as much as he loves feeding them. So, he doubles up. He gives Peter the chance to repent: three denials by the fire are forgiven through three questions by the fire. “Do you love me?” Yes. And Peter is forgiven.
What about the food? How does Jesus want Peter to prove his love? By feeding his lambs, shepherding his sheep, and feeding his sheep. This is more proof that Peter is the first pope. As we saw at Easter two weeks ago, this is a big moment proving the power and authority of the pope and the Church. Jesus the good shepherd calls Peter a shepherd. Jesus loves to teach and forgive sins, so he leaves us the Pope and Bishops to do that.
And yet, he only commands him to shepherd and tend once. The other two commands go back to Jesus’ other favorite hobby: feeding people. Feed my lambs. How fitting a command on the weekend/day we have first communion! Boys and girls, Jesus rose from the dead, forgave Peter’s sins, and commanded him to feed his lambs because he knew that one day you would get to receive communion! When he said “feed my lambs” Jesus saw your face in his mind. He has looked forward to this moment ever since then. That’s why 100s of millions of angels are crying out in heaven at this Mass. That is why Popes, Bishops, and Priests exist: to shepherd yes, but even more to feed. And as we know, Peter, the Apostles, and so many others after them have done that. Truly, many of them preferred to die rather than stop doing it, which is why immediately after this command to feed the sheep, Jesus also prophesies that Peter will one day be crucified for following him.
God… Jesus Christ went to such great length just to shepherd, forgive, and feed us and all he wants in return is our love. He wants all of it, of course, but it’s what he wants. So, let’s give it to him! The 100s of millions of angels cry out their deafening shout of joy, but it doesn’t end there. The vision then tells us that “everything in the universe” also cries out. That’s what you’re doing here. That’s why we celebrate the Lord’s day every week. Little by little, we are adding our voice, strengthening it… worshipping God. And we’re giving God the chance to do what he loves: feed us.
What loving shepherd would only feed his sheep a few times a year? What loving parent would let God feed their children only once in a while? Rejoice that you have been invited to this meal, to this weekly – even daily – festival of God’s love. Come every week. Prepare your hearts by repentance, ready your souls through prayer, and come with joy to the wedding supper of the lamb that was slain all for love of you.