6 April 2018 - gone fishing

Today's Readings (Audio)

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

Do we allow ourselves to go back to business as usual after the resurrection? The resurrection is something so amazing with implications so profound that it is hard to figure out how it fits into our lives. In point of fact, the resurrection is such a momentous thing, our lives must ever after fit into it. This is not to say that our old activities have no place in our lives. Perhaps they do. But we must see their value as redefined. They can no longer be absolutely important. And now, we do them together with Jesus.

So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.

The risen LORD is always trying to reveal himself. He wants us to know him more and more. He is always interrupting the flow of the habit patterns to which we were accustomed in order that the new reality of the resurrection might enter in. The trouble, though, is that we don't always realize it. Sometimes a friend can help.

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.

We can see that when Peter realizes that the risen LORD is there he no longer cares much about the fish. The fish get to the shore eventually, but they aren't the priority. For this revelation, he needs the help of John to open his eyes to the action of the LORD in their midst. We too should be ready to receive wise counsel to others and also to give it if we ourselves recognize the LORD first.

We must never be ashamed of our testimony to Jesus. We always be ready to give a reason for our hope. To do so we must know, not only that he once lived again, but that he now lives and is present in his Church.

then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.

May the LORD open our eyes to see him. May he free our lips to speak his praise. Let us become his witnesses first, and fishers, if it all, in a distant second.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.