Fourth Sunday - The Miraculous catch of fish
Gospel: John 21; 1-14
Reflection 1
The Renewal of the Disciples’ Mission
In this passage, Jesus appears to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. The disciples, who were fishermen by trade, had gone fishing but caught nothing all night until the Risen Lord appeared.
Jesus does not criticise the disciples for going back to their old occupation. What Jesus did was bring success to their working endeavours, to lead their night out fishing to a marvelous conclusion.
In our lives, there are moments when we hear God speaking to us, telling us to fulfill something, even after we have exhausted all human resources available to us. At such times, like Peter, it becomes imperative for us to obey what God is calling us to do. It is in these moments of obedience that the true power of God begins to manifest itself.
Reevaluate our actions to seek spiritual direction
"Casting the net to the right side" can be seen as a call to reevaluate our actions and intentions, to seek spiritual direction, and to realign ourselves with God's plan for our lives.
Gregory the Great said: 'Peter returned to fishing, but Matthew did not return to tax collection, because there are deeds that we cannot return to after renewal.'
The fish were very large and plentiful (153)
This is an unimaginable number to come out of one batch. It means that despite the darkness of the world and the abundance of spiritual wars, the Church of Christ, by the power of His work, is able to attract many and great souls, no matter how long and dark the night (the darkness of the world) is.
The depth of Peter’s love
We find Peter, in his passionate love, throwing himself into the water to show his love, perhaps this will absolve him of his previous denial. Peter, at the beginning of his encounter with Christ, when he felt his sin, said to him, “Lord, come out of my boat.” Now, when he felt his sin (nakedness), he threw himself into the water to escape to Christ. At the beginning of the sinner’s relationship with Christ, he flees from Him when he feels his sin, and after that he flees to Him when he discovers His love.
The lesson for us
This miracle is a lesson for what happens in our lives every day, and in the lives of priests in particular. We often rely on our knowledge, our hearts, our understanding and our experiences rather than God, but relying on God and His Word is behind true success. Every effort that is separated from God working in His church has no value. Peter, who followed Christ, when he relied on himself, failed and denied Him, despite his love for Him.
Thought for the week
“God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding, He advises you to do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and He aids you that you may be able.” St. Augustine
‘Come and have breakfast’
Jesus was calling the disciples back into communion with him. That same call goes out to each of us at every Eucharist. The Eucharist is the sacrament of the Lord’s faithfulness to us in our frailty and weakness. It is also the moment when we are invited to renew our faithfulness to him and to commit again to living it out in our daily lives. By Father Martin
Reflection 2
The power that fills our empty nets
After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples had returned to Galilee, back to their fishing, back to their past. Peter and the other disciples were professional fishermen. They knew what they were doing but they’ve been working all night and haven’t caught anything until the Risen Lord appeared. Jesus told them to do exactly the opposite: to look ahead and focus on the future.
The Word of the Lord brings light into their darkness, and their labour bears rich fruit.
This miracle was the fruit of humility, obedience and trust in the Lord. It reminds us that without the Lord we can do nothing.
Nourished by the food of your Word and unfailing love, may we in turn nourish and love those we meet today and everyday.
May we recognise that we never work alone, but that the power of the risen Lord is with us, just as He was with the disciples on the shore of Lake Tiberias. We need to believe and trust that with Christ strengthening us anything is possible.
Thought for the week-“It is the Lord.”
Those who recognize the Risen One are the ones who experienced His loving presence. God fills us when we are empty, when we are in need.
“God does not need your fullness, your plenitude, but rather your nothingness.” And with this, there is nothing He cannot do through us, whether He calls us into the deep or home to
shore”. Mother Teresa
Jesus shares a meal with his disciples on the shore of Lake Tiberias, which is reminiscent of both the miracle of the loaves and fishes and the Last Supper. Although we have not 'seen' Jesus in the same way as those first disciples Christians today have personally experienced his presence in their lives, have touched his Body through the community of faith, have heard him through God's Word and received his Body through the gift of the Eucharist. Whenever we gather for the Eucharist, we are participating in an act which is ever new, yet rooted in the belief and practice of Christians from the beginning. The Eucharist celebrates both Christ's presence to us and our presence to one another as church. Gwen Simon
Gospel: John 21; 1-14
Reflection 1
The Renewal of the Disciples’ Mission
In this passage, Jesus appears to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. The disciples, who were fishermen by trade, had gone fishing but caught nothing all night until the Risen Lord appeared.
Jesus does not criticise the disciples for going back to their old occupation. What Jesus did was bring success to their working endeavours, to lead their night out fishing to a marvelous conclusion.
In our lives, there are moments when we hear God speaking to us, telling us to fulfill something, even after we have exhausted all human resources available to us. At such times, like Peter, it becomes imperative for us to obey what God is calling us to do. It is in these moments of obedience that the true power of God begins to manifest itself.
Reevaluate our actions to seek spiritual direction
"Casting the net to the right side" can be seen as a call to reevaluate our actions and intentions, to seek spiritual direction, and to realign ourselves with God's plan for our lives.
Gregory the Great said: 'Peter returned to fishing, but Matthew did not return to tax collection, because there are deeds that we cannot return to after renewal.'
The fish were very large and plentiful (153)
This is an unimaginable number to come out of one batch. It means that despite the darkness of the world and the abundance of spiritual wars, the Church of Christ, by the power of His work, is able to attract many and great souls, no matter how long and dark the night (the darkness of the world) is.
The depth of Peter’s love
We find Peter, in his passionate love, throwing himself into the water to show his love, perhaps this will absolve him of his previous denial. Peter, at the beginning of his encounter with Christ, when he felt his sin, said to him, “Lord, come out of my boat.” Now, when he felt his sin (nakedness), he threw himself into the water to escape to Christ. At the beginning of the sinner’s relationship with Christ, he flees from Him when he feels his sin, and after that he flees to Him when he discovers His love.
The lesson for us
This miracle is a lesson for what happens in our lives every day, and in the lives of priests in particular. We often rely on our knowledge, our hearts, our understanding and our experiences rather than God, but relying on God and His Word is behind true success. Every effort that is separated from God working in His church has no value. Peter, who followed Christ, when he relied on himself, failed and denied Him, despite his love for Him.
Thought for the week
“God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding, He advises you to do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and He aids you that you may be able.” St. Augustine
‘Come and have breakfast’
Jesus was calling the disciples back into communion with him. That same call goes out to each of us at every Eucharist. The Eucharist is the sacrament of the Lord’s faithfulness to us in our frailty and weakness. It is also the moment when we are invited to renew our faithfulness to him and to commit again to living it out in our daily lives. By Father Martin
Reflection 2
The power that fills our empty nets
After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples had returned to Galilee, back to their fishing, back to their past. Peter and the other disciples were professional fishermen. They knew what they were doing but they’ve been working all night and haven’t caught anything until the Risen Lord appeared. Jesus told them to do exactly the opposite: to look ahead and focus on the future.
The Word of the Lord brings light into their darkness, and their labour bears rich fruit.
This miracle was the fruit of humility, obedience and trust in the Lord. It reminds us that without the Lord we can do nothing.
Nourished by the food of your Word and unfailing love, may we in turn nourish and love those we meet today and everyday.
May we recognise that we never work alone, but that the power of the risen Lord is with us, just as He was with the disciples on the shore of Lake Tiberias. We need to believe and trust that with Christ strengthening us anything is possible.
Thought for the week-“It is the Lord.”
Those who recognize the Risen One are the ones who experienced His loving presence. God fills us when we are empty, when we are in need.
“God does not need your fullness, your plenitude, but rather your nothingness.” And with this, there is nothing He cannot do through us, whether He calls us into the deep or home to
shore”. Mother Teresa
Jesus shares a meal with his disciples on the shore of Lake Tiberias, which is reminiscent of both the miracle of the loaves and fishes and the Last Supper. Although we have not 'seen' Jesus in the same way as those first disciples Christians today have personally experienced his presence in their lives, have touched his Body through the community of faith, have heard him through God's Word and received his Body through the gift of the Eucharist. Whenever we gather for the Eucharist, we are participating in an act which is ever new, yet rooted in the belief and practice of Christians from the beginning. The Eucharist celebrates both Christ's presence to us and our presence to one another as church. Gwen Simon