1 April 2016 - where we are

[ Today's Readings ]

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.

Are we already back to life as usual? LORD, the Octave of Easter isn't even over yet. This is still the day of your resurrection! Yet here we are, back fishing as if nothing is different. And not only that, it is going poorly. We're back to the daily grind of necessity and it is already a struggle. The good news is that you don't just let us wander off like this. You enter into our daily grind. You meet us where we are.

Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”

Your mighty deeds are meant to do more than make us very efficient fishermen. They are meant to reveal who you are to us again and more deeply.

Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.

You do want your children to eat. One of the things that marks the early church is that they meet together for the breaking of bread, which is the Eucharist first and foremost...

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (see Acts 2:42)

but also other meals...

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people (see Acts 2:46-47).

You want us to do these things in your presence. You want us to have the glad and generous hearts that come from recognizing our risen LORD in our midst, in the brothers and sisters with whom we share meals, wherever two or more or gathered, in your word, and in the Eucharist.

This is how daily life is elevated for believers. It may still be a grind in some ways. But in other ways we hardly notice because of your presence with us. The fundamental thing is to know who you are. We have peace knowing that even when we forget you continue to reveal yourself.

If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
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.

It is only your name which can heal a broken world, LORD. This healing touches not just the extreme moments but all of life if we only let it. There is no other way. Other solutions are temporary and partial. Only in you is salvation.

There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.

LORD, be the cornerstone of our lives. We give thanks to you for your goodness and for your mercy without end.

By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.