A Homily on John 21:1–19 : A Charcoal Fire of Love

 A Charcoal Fire of Love: A Homily on John 21:1 – 19 about Healing, Forgiveness, and Mission ( Sunday the 4th of May 2025)

Praise be to Jesus Christ

There was once a young man who had done something wrong and had a big fight with his father. In shame, he left home and stayed far away for many months. His heart was full of regret. He wanted to return, but he was afraid. So he wrote a letter to his father. In it, he said, “If you can forgive me and still love me, please tie a white cloth on the branch of the mango tree near our house. I will come by on Friday. If I see the cloth, I will know you want me back. If I see nothing, I will continue on my way.”

On Friday, as the bus reached the edge of the village, the young man was too nervous to look. He asked the stranger sitting next to him, “Can you look outside and tell me if there is a white cloth on that mango tree?” The man looked and said, “Brother, not one — the whole tree is covered with white cloths.”

This is what Jesus did for Peter in today’s Gospel. After Peter had denied Him three times, Jesus did not turn away. He did not build a judgment seat or call down fire from heaven. He simply made a small charcoal fire by the sea, placed some bread and fish on it, and waited for Peter. He waited not to punish, but to restore.

That fire matters and this fire reminds us of another fire,  the one in the courtyard, where Peter denied Jesus three times. That fire was surrounded by fear. But this one — this new fire on the beach — is surrounded by love.

It is not just a fire for cooking food. It is a fire for healing wounds.

Jesus does not ask Peter about his failure. He asks only one question  “Do you love me?” Not once, but three times. This is not to embarrass Peter. It is to lift him up again. For each denial, Jesus gives him a chance to say, “I love you.” This is what real mercy looks like.

In the Bible, fire often shows God’s presence. Moses saw a burning bush. Elijah called down fire from heaven. But here, Jesus is not showing His power. He is showing His patience. This fire is gentle. It does not burn but it warms. That is how God works in our lives too. He doesn’t always come loudly. Sometimes He comes through small signs; a kind word, a silent prayer, a morning Mass  and through them, He heals us.

Saint Peter’s failure did not disqualify him. In fact, it made him more ready to love. Jesus did not say, “You’re finished.” He said, “Feed my sheep.” Love must always move into service.

Saint Francis of Assisi is a good example. He too once lived for comfort and honour. He loved parties, fine clothes, and worldly praise. But after encountering Jesus, he gave away everything. He kissed lepers. He rebuilt churches with his bare hands. People laughed at him, but he said, “I have fallen in love with Jesus, and now everything else seems small.” He began poor in spirit, but Jesus made him rich in love. His fire was lit by that same question: “Do you love me?”

C.S. Lewis, a Christian writer and thinker once said, “You cannot go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” That is exactly what Peter did. He began again.

My dear brothers and sisters, maybe we too have denied Jesus, not by words, but by our actions, by silence, by fear. But He is waiting for us. He has already lit a small fire on the beach of our life. He has bread ready. He asks only one thing “Do you love me?”

If your answer is “Yes, Lord,” then feed His sheep. Care for your family, love the poor, forgive your enemies, and serve the Church. That is what love looks like.

Oh! Dear loving Jesus, light a new fire in our hearts: a fire of love that never goes out. Amen.

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God Bless…