May 1, 2022 (Third Sunday of Easter)

“Just Let Go”

by Deacon John Kerrigan

[This is the text composed by the homilist prior to delivering the homily.]

Today’s Gospel raises an intriguing question: how do you and I come to recognize Christ?

While there is no easy answer to this query, I’d suggest that the process of “letting go” plays an important role in arriving at an answer. To recognize Christ among us, we need to let go of our fears, our shame, our certainty, as well as the inordinate focus that we can often have on ourselves.

The cartoon series “The Simpsons’” includes an episode wherein Homer sees a candy bar in a vending machine. Instead of paying for it, he puts his hand under the flap and reaches up to grab the candy bar. With what result? His arm gets trapped in the machine. Now well anchored in one machine, Homer is distracted by the sight of a soda in a nearby machine. He shimmies over and in the process of trying to pry the can loose, he gets his other arm stuck. “Marge, you’re not going to believe this, but I’m stuck inside two vending machines.”

The emergency workers who arrive survey the scene and decide to use the “jaws of life.” Before doing so, though, the fire Captain says, “Wait, stop. Homer, just let go.” Once Homer releases his grip on both the candy bar and the soda, he is freed.

In today’s gospel story, we find Peter and five of the other disciples “stuck” in a different way. They have resumed their day-to-day work as fishermen but find themselves terribly discouraged. And with good reason, since they are utterly confused about the events surrounding Jesus’ passion.

Returning to the shore after a disappointing evening of fishing, they hear the voice of someone on the shore whom they do not recognize. He encourages them to cast their nets on the other side of the board. They heed his instructions and yield a catch so great that they are unable to haul it ashore.

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, eventually recognizes Him and says, “It is the Lord.” Peter, overcome with emotion, simply “lets go” and takes the plunge into the sea so as to make his way to the shore.

Now, what was it that Simon Peter began to let go of on that quiet morning by the Sea of Tiberius? Peter let go of his shame. He was ashamed that his courage had failed him so catastrophically around a charcoal fire on the night of Jesus’ arrest: “I have seen you with him,” said a servant, “You must be one of his followers.” Peter’s response? “Not me. I swear, I don’t even know the man!”

Peter did what so many of us also do when we are ashamed: he retreated to what is safe and familiar. Like him, we cling fast to anything that will help us to feel worthy again. And yet, sitting by a different charcoal fire on the beach that morning, Peter, in the presence of Jesus, doesn’t feel humiliated. Instead, he finds himself letting go of one understanding, and opening himself to another.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t avoid the hard conversation. But first he feeds Peter’s body, and then he deals with his soul. He surrounds this self-loathing disciple with love and allows him to “let go” of his shame. The scene is a tender one. Jesus asks, Simon Peter,” Do you love me.” On hearing Peter’s affirmative response, the Lord responds, “Then feed my sheep.”

You and I come to recognize Jesus in our own lives when we simply “let go” of our inadequacies and accept His healing presence. As we continue our journey during these remaining weeks of the Easter season, what are some things you and I might need to “let go” of?

Two thoughts: first of all, let’s let go of certainty. Have you ever met a person who appears certain about most things in life, particularly when it comes to matters of faith? A few years ago here at Stanford, after a lengthy conversation with an undergraduate, I reflected, “She is more certain about EVERYTHING than I am about ANYTHING.” Father Patrick LaBelle, who led our Catholic Community here at Stanford for many years, advised otherwise. He would often say to students, “Isn’t it time to ‘let go’ of the faith of your childhood, the faith you inherited, so as to own your faith as an adult?” The process of coming to embrace our faith as adults includes grappling with areas of doubt and uncertainty, a topic which Father Dominic preached about last Sunday.

Second, let’s let go of the role of being a bystander, merely an observer. Jesus’ commissioning of Peter implied action, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” One clear opportunity is to spend 20 or 30 minutes after Mass today participating in our planned conversation about the Synodal process put forth by Pope Francis. Your input will directly affect the life of our Stanford Catholic community.

As we approach another charcoal fire of sorts, here at the table of the Lord today, let’s find Jesus finding us, as he did his early disciples, and calling us, forgiving us, encouraging us to let go. Let’s allow the Lord to feed us with his very self, so that we, like Peter and so many before us, might “Feed his sheep.”