Third Sunday of Easter – Sr. Josephine Thelfall, SNDdeN

May 4, 2025

John 21: 1-14

Today we are all in living in a world of insecurity, doubt and fear- our faith is being tested, which includes -our love and trust in God and care and support of each other. We can see the same situation among the Apostles who promised to keep alive the Gospel message that Jesus came to bring – “love one another as I have loved you”, and “Go out and spread the Good News.

In the reading from Acts people were expected to obey earthly rulers rather than the invitation to love, care and respect all that God has made. Peter and the Apostles challenged this and said; “We must obey God rather than men.” It is so easy to say yes to human power when it will make life easier for us. The Apostles had the courage to go against the power of earthly leaders and be willing to suffer for their fidelity and love of God. What prevents me from speaking truth to power or defending the powerless?

The Psalm expresses gratitude to God for having mercy on our human weakness and saving us from evil- “You have changed my mourning into dancing. O Lord, I thank you for ever”. God never tires of showing mercy and forgiveness- how consoling and comforting is that?

In the reading from Revelations, we are given a taste of the promises of God’s generosity- “Worthy is the lamb that was slain, to receive power and wealth and might and honor and glory and blessing.” How can I respond to this abundance of God’s love?

The Gospel reading tells us of the appearance of Jesus after the Resurrection, to the group of Apostles, who are possibly in a sad and confused state, feeling quite insecure. So, it was quite understandable that they would want to join Peter when he said he was going fishing at night. But they would have felt quite despondent when at daybreak they hadn’t caught any fish. When Jesus (whom they didn’t recognise) asked them to cast their nets to right side of the boat and said they would find some, they probably all doubted but thought, -well we’ve nothing to lose at this stage.

What followed was the miraculous draught of fish and they were then invited to breakfast. Gradually the Apostles began to realise that it was Jesus who was speaking to them, though none of them dared to ask him, “Who are you?” It was Jesus who asked Simon Peter “Do you love me more than these?” This was asked, not once but three times. Anyone would be very insensitive not to realise that Jesus was referring to the denial of Peter during the Passion. How and when has Jesus asked me the same question? In what subtle ways have I found excuses and denied? Each question was a challenge to care for the followers of Jesus. So, his final words to the Apostles were “Follow me”. How can we do this in our lives today?

Pope Francis’ Prayer for all Creation                                                                                                                                                           

Lord, Father of our human family, You created all human beings equal in dignity:

Pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit

And inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter,

Dialogue, justice and peace.

Move us to create healthier societies

And a more dignified world,

A world without hunger, poverty, violence and war.

May our hearts be open

To all the peoples and nations of the earth.

May we recognize the goodness and beauty

That you have sown in each of us

And thus, forge bonds of unity, common projects,

And shared dreams. Amen.  (Fratelli Tutti)

John 21: 1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.

When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.

Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Meet Sister Josephone Threlfall, SNDdeN

Jo Threlfall entered Notre Dame in 1963 having been educated in different parts of the country by five different religious congregations. The attraction of St. Julie’s charism of simplicity, love, and concern for the education of women and girls was always very strong along with her sense of justice. She spent ten years teaching in primary and middle schools in England before going to Nigeria where she spent time teaching in primary and secondary schools. She later worked with women’s development programmes. This was really challenging but enjoyable and rewarding work. There were only 12 sisters from the British Province when she arrived in 1977 and by the time, she left in 1997 there were over 50 sisters, 6 of whom were expatriates. In 2025, there are over 100 Nigerian Sisters with 2 from the British Province She then spent two years in Zimbabwe in the late 1990’s coordinating women’s development programmes reaching women in the rural areas across the country. Here she was very much aware of the contrast between the wealth in the towns and the dire poverty of the women and children in the rural areas. Often the men went to the towns for work only returning home for short periods. After returning to the UK in 1999, she helped in the Africa Administration section of Cafod and taught English at the Refugee Council. After some pastoral work in Brixton Prison, she continued English teaching at the Cardinal Hume Centre in London and spent a year in the Office of Missio. She has added to her ministry part time work with the ecumenical chaplaincy team at Gatwick Airport. She is a member of the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission focusing on the Laudato Si Movement, immigrants, and modern day slavery.