(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: https://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mass-Blog-for-the-Third-Sunday-of-Easter-2025.mp3)
The gospels often work together like a beautiful jazz opera. The art world fused jazz and opera together in 1935 for George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. The story, taking place in a poor South Carolina fishing community called Catfish Row, portrays the best and worst in humanity—and their collective hope for something better. Poor people surviving by catching and selling fish is at the very heart of the gospels, too—especially where Peter is concerned. In fact, this Sunday’s collection of readings could be reimagined as a jazz opera called Peter and Jesus.
Variations on themes repeat themselves throughout jazz and opera scores, as they do in the gospels. In this Sunday’s gospel reading (John 21:1-19 ), the risen Jesus reveals himself to the disciples for a third time. Last Sunday we heard about his first two appearance in their locked hideout. Here, toward the end of John’s gospel, we recognize the echo of a theme from the beginning of Luke’s gospel in which Jesus reveals his mastery to them for the first time. Both selections involve an over-abundant catch of fish, convincing them to become fishers of humanity.
At this point in John’s gospel Jesus had already convinced his disciples that he had risen. So, why does Peter feel the need to go back to fishing for fish? Here Jesus appears onshore and tells them to lower their nets for a catch, as in Luke’s gospel. They catch a ton. In Luke’s gospel the nets are in danger of tearing, but in John’s they stay strong. Are the nets thematic reminders that the risen Christ will help his fishermen stay strong despite the stresses that plagued them while the earthbound Jesus was just beginning to firm up his disciples’ fragile faith?
This Sunday’s first reading from Acts (Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41) shows us Peter’s super-reinforced faith in action. When the high priests warn him and his men to stop teaching in Jesus’ name, he withstands the stress that caused him to break when Jesus was about to meet his fate. This new stress not only doesn’t break him, but it reinforces him:
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.”
Sunday’s readings include an angelic musical ensemble, courtesy of the Book of Revelation (Revelation 5:11-14). The result for our journey into music appreciation is a jazz/opera/gospel fusion featuring a call and response. Call and Response is a musical technique where one musician’s phrase is answered by another musician. This technique can make jazz’s unpredictability more relatable, just as the gospels bring God’s word to life in our hearts. Sunday’s second reading brings in angelic choruses, inviting us to respond to God’s call:
“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.”
Porgy & Bess is still performed around the world, but it’s only into its 90th birthday. Peter & Jesus offers an ancient yet timeless jazz/opera/gospel masterpiece calling us to respond by being fishers of audiences hungry to keep God’s music playing in human hearts forever and ever.
–Tom Andel
It seems, like Peter, the Lord has to beat it into our heads or hearts his commitment to us, so we in turn can commit our lives to the Lord. He decided to create us, as well as determine where and to whom we were born. He knew us before we were knit in our mother’s womb, and at this time of year in the Easter season we get our annual reminder of what it’s all about.
There is a circle of life, and I find it more than coincidence that the Easter season coincides with the rebirth that takes place at springtime. Whether we are in the spring, summer, fall, or the wintertime of our life, the ultimate spring rebirth awaits each of us. Make sure your seeds of life eternal are properly planted and cared for. The harvest is coming!
The more seasons we live through, the more philosophical you and I have become. Whether we draw inspiration from the arts, agriculture, or our very lives, our ultimate source material was written long before we were, by the Author of The Book of Life.
What a wonderful comparison for the lesson of the Gospel this week. Let’s hope that those of us who believe continue to gain courage to speak of our Lord Jesus Christ without hesitation.
Thanks for your comment, Deb. You’re right, testifying about God at work in our lives is getting harder in an age where gaudy technology distracts from quiet and TRUE miracles. We need to get attuned to that still, small voice.