It is Sunday and as is our custom, we choose to spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ wherever we are. In Palermo it will be a challenge to find a Protestant church, let alone a service in English. However, after only a short 15-minute walk, we arrive at an Anglican church called Holy Cross Anglican Church.
During the early 19th century, when Sicily was briefly a British Protectorate, the flourishing colony of British merchants were able to attend church services at the British Embassy. Soon after, Holy Cross Anglican Church was established in 1875.
Readings and Commentary
Psalm 30 Responsive Reading of this psalm of thanksgiving, praise, joy and gratitude to God for His mercy and grace even in times of hardship.
Acts 9:1-6
This reading tells about Paul’s encounter with the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul later details this encounter in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. Paul considers himself an apostle since Jesus personally revealed Himself to him. Paul knew all the ancient promises contained in the Old Testament writings fulfilled in the life and work of Jesus the Christ.
John 21:1-9
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.
That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn,
Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him. “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything: you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.)
After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Peter’s encounter with the resurrected Christ on the shores of Galilee was reminiscent of the past, when he was first called by Jesus and brought in a large load of fish.
When Jesus says, Follow Me in John 21:19, it comes full circle by taking Peter back to the start when Jesus told him to Follow Me in Matthew 4:19.
Even though Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, Jesus erased his weakness by asking him about his love for Him three times. The slate is wiped clean.
Love, love and love again. Threefold commission of love. Peter is now free from his sin and free to spread the good news of Jesus. Like Peter, we too are confronted by our own weaknesses.
Following Jesus means to align our lives with His teachings and example, to embrace His values as our own. It signifies a willingness to leave behind old ways and habits, to take up our cross daily, and to live out a commitment to Him above all other influences.
Is the number of fish that were caught significant? One would expect an estimate so 153 seems to hold some significance. It has been debated and theories have been offered but … nobody knows!
Early Christians gave the name Pentecost to a fifty-day span of rejoicing after Easter. On the fortieth day Christ commissions his disciples to continue his work, He promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then He is no longer among them in the flesh. The arrival of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost completes and crowns the Easter Festival.
In the back of the sanctuary and the front of the church is the rose window that represents The Adoration of the Lamb in heaven. Below are the three people that were present at the foot of the cross from left to right: Mary Magdalene, John the disciple, and Mary, His mother.
Hymns had familiar tunes, even Danny Boy, but are difficult to sing when there are no notes.
A memorial, given by General Patton, commemorates Americans killed in the Sicilian campaign in WWII (lives lost: 2,899 American: 2,376 British; 562 Canadian). After the invasion of Sicily in 1943, the church was used by U.S. Forces. The register of services notes, on several occasions, that General Patton was present in worship services.
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