Friday, Octave of Easter: I'm going fishing

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 Post-resurrection and before Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter and the apostles were in a liminal (threshold) phase: standing at the dawn of something new, but not yet knowing what it might entail. In today's Gospel, (Jn 21:1-14 ) Peter announces, “I'm going fishing.” James and John, Thomas and Nathaniel go with him. They perhaps didn't yet realize they were no longer just fishermen, but fishers of men and women. We read that after a long night on the lake, their boats are empty. The Risen Jesus calls out from shore, “Children, have you caught anything?” He invites them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” The Gospel continues,

“So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.' So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.”

Everything changes at Jesus' command. Nets, interpreted by many as the Church, are filled with a great multitude of fish, but remain unbroken. The apostles drag the net to the shallows, but Peter, their head, drags it to shore. Jesus is there waiting in friendship, with a fire's warmth and meal to revive them.

Lord Jesus, You are always close by. Help me to trust in Your abiding presence, to believe that Your Spirit is at work in my ordinary tasks and labours for Your purposes and Kingdom. Amen.

Link to readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042222.cfm


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