April 26, 2019

Jn 21: 1-14

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.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Children of God

Enter John’s narrative with its explosive symbolism – the boat, water, fish in the boat, in the water, over a charcoal fire, served with bread. The boat is Church, the water a normally stormy world but calm today, its concession to Christ’s presence. The stony beach on a fresh, cool but warming, sun-filled morning – Christ’s kingdom. Jesus, alive, transfigured, not atop heavenly mountain but here, in the now. Peter, diving into the water, cleansing himself of denial and weakness. Fish, we are the fish (and the fishermen), in the Church, in the world, dying to the world, integral to his communion.

Christ risen, sharing bread and fish with those who left him to die alone. Abandoning not those who abandoned him but making them fishers of men, inviting them into his kingdom. On a perfect morning Christ joyfully, unconditionally loving, calling to his doubting, broken apostles (and us), “Children.”

—Stephen Hutchison founded and leads Revitalization 2000, Inc., a nonprofit organization that emerged from St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church to assist its Ignatian-based mission to serve the poor in the surrounding neighborhood of north St. Louis.

Prayer

An Easter Prayer

Christ, as You did that perfect morning
call out to us amidst our daily toils
and invite us
Your children
into communion
forming us
in whatever we do
into fishers of men.

—Stephen Hutchison