How do we encounter the risen Jesus Christ, and what should our response be to this encounter? I would like to suggest some thoughts by way of reflection on this Sunday's Mass readings.

We might begin by noting that there are indications in our second reading, from Revelation, and in our passage from St. John's Gospel, that the encounters with the risen Christ recorded there are comparable to something in our own lives today, especially something in the Church's liturgy. The prayer or hymn of all creatures that John beholds in his vision of the throne and of the Lamb is much like a liturgical prayer. We might recall, in fact, that he is having his vision on "the Lord's day," the most "liturgical" of days. The Gospel reading begins with the great catch of fish, and then Jesus' feeding of St. Peter and the other disciples with bread and fish. This should remind us of Jesus' feeding of the multitude - which is, in turn, a prefiguration of the Eucharistic Liturgy.

What, then, do we learn from our readings about how we should respond to the risen Christ as we continue to encounter him, in the liturgy and also elsewhere? First, we might consider the words of the beloved disciple, St. John himself, in the Gospel - "It is the Lord" - and the subsequent explanation, "And none of the disciples dared to ask him, 'Who are you?' because they realized it was the Lord." Our response to the risen Lord Jesus, then, should perhaps begin with our recognition of him, our affirmation of the reality of his Person and of his resurrection. We know that in our world, there is much doubt rather than faith. There is doubt that Jesus was and is even real. There is much doubt that he is really God the eternal Son. There is much doubt that he is really risen bodily from the dead. There is much doubt that he is really and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. But we are to respond to Jesus Christ with the certainty of faith about all these truths (and others too).

Second, of course, in our liturgy, and with our whole lives, we are not only to encounter and affirm the risen Christ, but also to worship him, and, through, with, and in him, the Father. We see this happening explicitly in John's vision in Revelation. We hear hymns of worship: "Worthy is the Lamb ...," "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor ..." And we are told that "the elders fell down and worshiped." In the Gospel, Peter professes his love for the risen Lord, also an act of worship. Entering into this worship means taking part fully and reverently in the Eucharistic Liturgy; it means adoring our Eucharistic Lord outside the liturgy; it means offering prayers of praise and thanksgiving and adoration and love throughout each day, wherever we are, whatever else we are doing. And it means doing good and shunning evil in all matters; it means glorifying God with all our actions, with all our human relationships, and with our uses of all the other things in creation.

Third, we are to respond to the risen Christ by making him known to, and active in the lives of, others. And we are to do this - and all else that is good - even in and through persecution and suffering. In Sunday's first reading, from Acts, we hear how the Apostles had been teaching in the name of Jesus crucified and risen, and were persecuted and ordered by the Sanhedrin to stop doing this. But Peter and the other Apostles are already fully resolved to continue their mission of evangelization, and they rejoice in being persecuted for the name of Jesus. They know that by allowing the risen Lord to work through them in the lives of others, they are also allowing him to work in them, bringing life and glory to all. They know that even when they suffer, their union with the Cross likewise brings them union with the Resurrection. In our Gospel, Peter is told that he is to feed and tend Jesus' lambs and sheep. We know that he will carry this out especially by the preaching of which we hear in Acts. He is also told that he will suffer and even die on a cross for Christ and the Gospel. Again, we see his suffering in Acts. It is by this work of evangelization, and this acceptance of suffering, Peter is told, that he will follow the risen Christ.

Through faith, worship, and evangelization, and acceptance of suffering for the Gospel, then, let us, too, respond to the risen Christ, in the liturgy and in the world, and come to share in his perfect and everlasting glory in heaven.