Friday in the Octave of Easter

“I’m Going Fishing…”
Chela Gonzalez, OP

The beginning of today’s gospel narrative portrays a discouraged Peter perhaps in despair and feeling uncertain of his future without Jesus at his side.  So, he decides to go fishing – a comfort zone for Peter.  He decided to return to his home district of Galilee.  He might have even considered resuming his fishing career.  “I’m going fishing,” he tells the others, and the other apostles followed him.  They, too, would ‘go back’ to do something they are familiar with: fishing.

 Just a few weeks earlier, Jesus had named Peter his solid-rock leader among his apostles, after Peter proudly proclaimed Jesus of Nazareth to be God’s Messiah.  This is the same Peter whose faith allowed him to walk on water – if only for a very short distance.  This is the same Peter who told Jesus that he’d follow him and lay down his life for him.  

Fast-forward to an early Friday morning – Passover, to be exact.  Now we find a different Peter.  This same man who was willing to face death for the cause of Christ now hides behind the bushes, having denied this same Christ he once proudly proclaimed.  He denies him – not once, not twice, but three times.  The man named leader by Jesus, had denied and abandoned Jesus, the Messiah.   And if we pay close attention to the Gospels, we are aware that not one of the other disciples stands strong as their rabbi is taken from them, stripped naked, beaten and crucified.  Two days later, even after some of the women in their group come to them to let them know that Jesus has been resurrected from the grave, they initially refuse to believe them.

It is no wonder that we find Peter dejected and humbled.  Perhaps he, along with his friends, are ready to go back to a life they once knew – the only profession they knew without messing things up.  And yet, even that which they know best – fishing – seemed to be failing, for they had fished all night and not caught a thing. 

Then Jesus steps in.  “Lads, have you caught anything?” he asks.  They had doomed nothing at the proper time for fishing, and now this stranger is telling them to cast their nets to the right side of the boat.  Nonetheless, they follow his direction, and soon their nets were brimming over with fish!  Upon their miraculous catch, they recognize that the stranger is Jesus!  Leaving the others in the boat, Peter becomes himself again – impetuously jumping into the water and swimming toward the shore, where Jesus has prepared breakfast for them.  The Resurrected Jesus was among them – eating, sitting, and conversing with them!  He was not a vision, nor a ghost.  He was among them in the flesh! 

How many times are we like Peter – and make a decision to ‘go back’ to our previous lifestyle?  At times we feel discouraged, or feel that our prayers are not answered, and like Peter, we may feel the absence of God. 

Like Peter, there are times in our lives when we become discouraged, and look back longing for better times.  During these times, Jesus may come to us in differing guises, though we may not always be clear that it is Jesus who is with us.  Jesus promised Peter and his apostles “I am with you always…” (Mt 28:20)” until the end of time.  This promise is for us too!  When we have those moments (as Peter and the apostles had) of discouragement or even the absence of God, let us take a moment and imagine what it would be like having breakfast with Jesus on the beach.  Or perhaps we can imagine sitting at our favorite coffee shop or restaurant with Jesus.  What would our conversation be?  What would his conversation be?  Perhaps in those times of discouragement, all we must do is listen to those around us.  Jesus may be speaking to us through a stranger, and will have a purpose for us, especially if we may not know what that purpose is.  Jesus prepared breakfast for Peter and the apostles.  He will also nourish us.  We simply need to sit with him and listen.  He will talk to us.  He will nourish us with his Word and his Body, and through one another – maybe even a stranger.  Let’s keep our eyes, ears, and hearts open so that we don’t miss the Resurrected Jesus among us!

 

 

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