April 09, 2021

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.

Recognizing Jesus’ presence

Peter always draws our attention – impulsive Peter, at times foolish Peter.  It was only a few days ago at Easter that we heard how he raced to the tomb, but the other disciple arrived there first.  Today he can’t wait for the boat to arrive back on shore; he jumps in the water to race to Jesus.  But in Peter’s energetic response we may miss something: he is NOT the first to recognize Jesus; it is another disciple.  

We, too, can be so focused on finding God in our own lives or in the busyness of our day that we may miss his presence made known in someone near us.  We can limit God’s presence to prayer and holy places and fail to notice God in our kitchens and marketplaces.  As we remain filled with Easter joy let us strive this day to be attentive to Jesus’ presence when he is visible to us directly, when he makes himself known through others, and when we are called to respond as the loved disciple – “it is the Lord.”  Allelulia!

—Jim Bozik is a permanent deacon at St. Peter Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC, the Jesuit parish in the Diocese of Charlotte.

Prayer

Light

Dawn breaks when I come back to the real world
where God is creator and sustainer
and I am only called upon to be a co-creator
but not responsible for it all;
Then I am freed from
the intolerable burden of my own yoke and
instead hitch up as yoke-mate with Jesus;
where He pulls most of the weight and I am not alone;
Then the yoke becomes sweet, the burden light
and there is space for love and joy and laughter and hope;
Since He will be there when my own strength fails and
we can put the yoke aside and rest...

—Ted Tracy, SJ