It is 10th April 2016 and the third Sunday of Easter. The readings are from Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Revelations 5:11-14; and the Gospel from John 21:1-19. The first reading presents the boldness of St. Peter through the power of the Holy Spirit to preach in front of the Jewish Supreme Court. They received the 40 strokes flogged and were reprimanded. They had to bear the pain in order to express their faithfulness to Jesus the Risen Lord and considered themselves privileged to suffer for Christ. In the Second reading, we are invited to be courageous and consistent in our witnessing to our faith. Witnessing is indeed a privilege and a willingness to suffer for the Lord in a given situation. We all have moral responsibility to show to the world our converted self. The Catechism teaches us in No.2472: “All Christian by the example of their lives and the witness of their word, wherever they live, have an obligation to manifest the new person which they have put on in Baptism and to reveal the power of the Holy Spirit by whom they were strengthened at Confirmation.” The vision of John presents the Risen Lord as the Lamb of God who rules above all and everything. “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour, glory and might, forever and ever.” (Rev.5:13). The Responsorial Psalm acclaims: “I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me.” (Ps.30:2). The Gospel narrates the encounter of the Risen Lord with his disciples. Jesus encourages Peter and entrusts him with the greater responsibility by reminding his privilege to suffer for Christ is asserted through Peter’s triple assertion of unwavering faith publically. St. Peter is motivated by the Lord to face Him and to suffer for Him at all times. We are all invited to be the witnesses for the Risen Lord in our families, the communities and in the world at large. If Jesus asks us the same question to each one of: “Do you love me? (Jn.21:17). What will our answers be? May the Risen Lord bless you all.