Third Easter Sunday, Year C
Theme: It’s Difficult To See God’s Love 很難認出主的愛
As I have mentioned many times before, it’s exhausting to know the complexity of truth and life. Humanity has the tendency to avoid the harsh task of digging up the truth and to make life easy by simplifying a situation with a preconceived world-view which was previously built with labour. For example, since three gifts were offered to the Holy Infant, we were told that three Wise Men from the east came to worship the new born king (Matthew 2:11). Actually, the gospel did not specify the number of Wise Men (2:1)! Today, we read of the story in which Jesus asked Simon Peter three times whether he loved Him more than the others did. Each time, He commissioned Peter to take care of the Church. Traditionally, Church Fathers interpreted this as Jesus showing Peter forgiveness, giving Peter three opportunities to compensate for his three denials. It seems too artificial and once more, I suspect that the explanation has been over-simplified.
First of all, even if Jesus had the intention to forgive Peter, were it necessary to ask three times to match the three denials? In previous incidences, Jesus forgave the paralysed man (Mark 2:5), the adultery woman (John 8:11) and forgave the abusers on the cross (Luke 23:34) only once. Isn’t once already sufficient enough?
Secondly, we have no doubt that Jesus has the authority and mercy to forgive. But men enjoy the freedom to reject His mercy. Whether we accept or reject, Jesus forgives! Just like in our daily life, God showers us with graces we haven’t asked. We only have to be grateful. In this particular case, Christ has already forgiven Peter when He was crucified on the cross because Peter did not know what he was doing when he entered the High Priest’s courtyard and denied his Master. Why should Jesus take the trouble to forgive Peter three times in this particular situation? To make known to all, including Peter, that he had been forgiven? It’s unconvincing! Furthermore, when Jesus asked the third time, Peter was “distressed”! If Peter were begging Jesus’ forgiveness, he should have been eager to be given the third opportunity to cancel his third denial. Why should Peter be distressed! Therefore, at least for Peter himself, he did not understand this whole dialogue as an absolution of his three denials.
I have no intention to show that the Church Fathers were wrong in their interpretation. They were not. Forgiveness is altruistic and an act of charity. Forgiveness is also a good illustration of Jesus’ agape. But we should be careful not to restrict our mind to interpret in one simplified way only. For example, the Torah can be simply interpreted as a set of precepts observing which would bring redemption. Thus, it is easier to enforce it simply according to the letters of the Torah. Therefore, it would be too “flexible” for Jesus to take into consideration the situations of the individuals and adjust the precepts accordingly. It would be unfair and eventually would damage the authority of the Torah etc. The Pharisees were not completely wrong but their way would mislead people and turn people away from God. Thus, Jesus warned us of the simplistic way of observing the letters of the Torah, “leaven of the Pharisees” (Luke 12:1)
Suffering is a complicated issue because it is indeed a mystery. Why should an all-loving God allow us to suffer? Why doesn’t an almighty God deliver us from suffering when we invoke His holy name?
Of course we can simplistically interpret sufferings and pains as a contrast to bliss and joy. Without pains, we would be unable to appreciate joy. Again, this is too simplistic an interpretation. In real life, many people are immune to pains and die fulfilled. So, using pains to highlight the goodness of joy does not stand.
In fact, God reveals Himself to be love (1 John 4:8). He loves us and has given us great powers to exercise and great bliss to enjoy. Regrettably, we were impatient and cut corners. There’s an innate temptation inside us who are God’s images to cash in and always want to become God immediately without any hard work. Sins appear and curb our powers into potentials which require greater efforts to actualize. Simply put, no pain no gain. God allows the Tempter to chasten us with disasters and sufferings. The Tempter plays the role of an Accuser in front of God and to us as a Liar to cast doubt on God’s love for us. Our sins are irredeemable and God will not forgive us etc.
The Tempter is truly annoying but God does not take any short cuts, snap His fingers and gone the Tempter. No. He does not show off His glory and majesty so that no humanity is able to reject Him. No! God takes the trouble to become flesh, lives patiently for thirty years among us before He springs into action. Even His actions are mild and inviting instead of being imposing. Then He dies a shameful death and comes back to life etc. so that “everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Alas, Brethren! It is not easy to believe and trust once we were bitten by sins. The Tempter always has an upper hand over us. God is faithful. We need to learn to become faithful ourselves. Paul encourages us, “Affliction produces endurance, and endurance proven character, and proven character hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5) Invoke the Holy Spirit within us to help us know the will of God and inflame in us the fire of love to love God so that we may be able to glorify God with our martyrdom (John 21:19).
God bless!
2019 Reflection
Picture credit: wikipedia.com
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