Easter Friday 1st April 2016
“JJesus said ’throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish.”
Ac.4,1-12 Ps.117 Jn.21,1-14
"Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples. It was by the sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this : Simon peer, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said ’I’m going fishing.’ They replied ’We’ll come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat but they caught nothing that night.
When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore , though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
Jesus called out ’Haven’t you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered’ No’, he said, ’Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something’. So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ’It is the Lord, ’Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him and jumped into the water."
The Risen Lord Jesus always takes the initiative of his encounters with his Apostle, in his new condition of Existence. Here, it is on the pebble stone lake of Galilee. This place is familiar to them because this is where they were walking when Jesus came to meet them.
The Apostles aren’t familiar with the Risen Lord Jesus, they have a hard time recognising Him.
The Gospel tells us that in their disarray it is wise to carry on in our daily life.
Peter and the disciples are still in shock over what happened to Jesus in his Passion and their faith is weak in the Risen Lord Jesus.
Peter announces he is going fishing, and this is is where Jesus comes to meet Him, when Peter’s efforts are fruitless.
Jesus prepared breakfast for these men who have worked hard all night without catching anything.
Little by little, the waves of Infinite Tenderness of God cover their incredulity, opposed to faith, it is God’s infinite Love that will raise them up once more.
“Jesus said ’Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of them being so many the net was not broken.”
They all see the fruit of the fishing, and John cries out : ’It’s the Lord!’ The disciple that Jesus loved was the first to ’see’ Jesus and to say so ; but Peter was the only one to throw himself into the water, as if he was cleansing himself from all the denials before seeing Jesus’ gaze.
By declaring his love for Jesus Christ three times, Peter discovers how he is forgiven, transfigured, recreated by a Love more powerful than all the spiritual deaths.
Jesus takes his people onto the river side of the Resurrection. For us too who have lives filled with so many different preoccupations, we often have the impression of coming back with empty hands after our search for happiness. With Jesus, it is the victory of Love that takes ’body’ within each one of us. Victory over death, over hatred, over everything that is opposed to Love. Invisibly, Jesus leads God’s Church led by the Holy Spirit, it is He, in his Church who is going to continue his work of grace in humanity.
“Jesus said to them ’Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ’Who are you?’ They knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with fish. This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.”
The Risen Lord Jesus asked the Apostles to go back fishing, with the order to throw their nets on the right side of the boat. This is where they find a big quantity of fish.
It is with the help of this way of looking that we can recognise the signs of the active presence of the Risen Lord Jesus as our day passes. Peter is disconcerted, with the Apostles, he will receive the Holy Spirit of Pentecost. It is in Him, the Holy Spirit, that Jesus sends them to the ends of the world. Jesus’ Resurrection does his work of sanctification in the Church, it is brought about in the Heart of the Apostles who have the responsibility of announcing the marvels of God. We are not alone to live the adventure of faith, it is a shared
experience, Jesus’ Resurrection is now revealed in the Apostles’ own Resurrection.
We ask for the grace to understand the message of the Risen Lord Jesus, may the fire of His Love burn within us.
“Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this; Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together, Simon Peter said, ’I’m going fishing.’ They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night. When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ’Haven’t you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered ’No’, he said, ’Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ’It is the Lord,’ Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (he had nothing on) and jumped into the water.”
When in a state of disarray it is wise just to carry living our daily life and this indeed is how Peter reacts. The disciples are in a state of shock and the disciples’ faith in the Risen Lord is quite a weak one. Peter takes a decision which reveals his temperament of a leader and also his spiritual health : ’I’m going fishing!’ Nevertheless he has a tough time all night and catches not one single fish. At this point, after their fruitless expedition, Jesus comes and joins them. Jesus answers their desires, as always , in a very royal manner. When Peter jumps into the waters, symbolically speaking this shows he belongs to Christ : Jesus is Alive and He revealed Himself to the Eleven. From now on the disciples’ hearts are filled with the Resurrection. The Risen Lord Jesus is present to His Church and the Church continues his Mission. Jesus prepared breakfast for these men who had had such a hard and fruitless night’s fishing… Little by little, the waves of Infinite Love of God cover the enemy, for ’the enemy’ is incredulity opposed to faith, the waves of the sea are the Infinite Love of God that will be revealed once more.
“Jesus said, ’Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken.”
They all see the catch and John cries out aloud, ’It’s the Lord!’ The disciple whom Jesus loved was the first to see him Risen, but Peter was the only one who jumped into the water, as though he washed himself of all his denials before crossing Jesus’ gaze.. The past is not even mentioned and it is by saying three times his Love for Christ that he finds himself forgiven, transfigured and recreated by a Love more Powerful than all spiritual deaths. The Lord leads his People onto the banks of the Resurrection. It is the victory of Love that take shape in each one of us, victory over death, over hatred, over everything that opposes love. This is the challenge we still need to meet today. Jesus goes before us in an invisible manner and the work of the Lord is accomplished. Jesus leads the Church of God led by the Holy Spirit. He manifests Himself more and more to his disciples, He reveals themselves to themselves. It is Christ in his Church who will continue his works of grace in humanity. The fecundity of the Church will go on throughout the centuries. Today we allow ourselves to be shaped by God’s Word and Jesus’ presence.
“Jesus said, ’Come and have breakfast’. None of the disciples dared ask ’Who are you?’ for they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them. Likewise, he took the fish. This was the third time he appeared to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.”
Peter cannot do away with his fall and the moments of sinfulness, the time he fell. But from now on, his betrayal will no longer come to the surface of his mind which has been taken up and washed in Jesus’ Mercy.’ Simon, Simon, I prayed for you’ said Jesus some hours before he died, ’so that your faith would not fail you. So when you will be converted, strengthen your brothers.’ Jesus’ Resurrection reveals itself in that of the Apostles. Peter is put out. At Pentecost he will receive the Holy Spirit.The Eucharist, an expression of Christ’s Sacrifice, envelops them with an immense Love. “The night before he died, at table, Jesus took the bread!”He keeps on gathering his people together. From now on Jesus is present
he makes himself visibly present, ’It really is me, touch me.’ Risen, he ate in their midst.’ You have clothed Christ,’ the apostle Paul will say. It is from this reality that Jesus sends his Apostles to the ends of the world. He had said’ Whoever wants to follow me must walk behind me.’ Jesus’ Resurrection does his ’work’ of sanctification in the Church. It comes about in the heart of the apostles who are called to proclaim God’s wonderful works.