Peter ESANMAH

Holy Trinity Catholic Church Aba Panu Celebrates Father's Day on 4th May, 2025 during a Mass that started at 8am with the Chief Celebrant Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Okonta, CSJ from (Josephite of Murialdo), whose reflection was themed: “From failure to fidelity the love that transform.”

The priest told the parishioners that the Easter season is a time of renewal, a time of reawakening in the presence of the risen Lord in our lives as seen in today's gospel, taken from John 21, one of the most tender and transformation moment in all of the scriptures: a story not just of resurrection, but of reconciliation and mission.

“Peter and the other disciples return to fishing after the resurrection. They've seen Jesus risen and yet they are unsure of what is to do next. It's a moment we can all relate to when we know the truth of the Gospel, but still find ourselves drifting back to what is familiar, what is comfortable even when it feels empty. And indeed their nets are empty all night they catch nothing. But then, just as He did in the beginning, Jesus stands on the shore and guided them to abundance.  "Cast your net on the right side he says and suddenly the nets are over flowing. This is more than just a miraculous catch. It's a symbol of what happens when we allow Jesus to direct our lives. In our own moment of emptiness, Jesus calls to us, not in anger or disappointment, but with a loving invitation to try again, this time with him.”

He further said on the encounter between Jesus and Peter. Three times Jesus asked Peter. "Do you love me" Three times Peter responded "Yes Lord you know that I love you"

And the three times Jesus replied, feed my sheep... Tends my sheep...... Feed my sheep".

The priest asked? What is Jesus doing here? He is healing the wounds of Peter's denied. He further asked if we remember on the night of Jesus persecution, Peter denied him three times. But Jesus does not hold it over him, He does not rebuke him, He invites Peter to profess love again, not to shame him but to restore him.

The Priest further said this is how the risen Lord treats us. He meets us not in condemnation, but in mercy. He takes our greatest failures and transform them into a deeper calling. That's what happened to Peter. The man who once fled in fear becomes the Shepherd of Christ Church. The fisherman becomes a fisher of men.

“Dear friends in Christ, the same Risen Jesus stands before you and me today. Perhaps we have drifted like Peter. Perhaps we have gone back to our other ways of life doing what's is familiar, trying to fill the emptiness ourselves. But Jesus is a calling from the shore of our lives: "Do you love me?"

The priest concluded that Jesus does not just want admirers, He wants disciples. He wants you and no matter your past, your doubts, your failure. He still asks: Do you love me? Let us answer him today from the depth of our hearts. Peter's transformation is a testament to the transformative power of God's love and grace even in his moment of weakness, Jesus never abandoned him, but instead offered forgiveness and a path toward restoration.

After the Mass a little celebration occur on the Fathers’ Day celebration with group photograph of the Chief celebrant and the CMO members thereafter.