Gospel:
John 21:1-14
Jesus
revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed
himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael
from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. 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. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the
shore; but the
disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 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." So they cast it, and were not able
to pull it in because of the number of fish. 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. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore,
only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed
out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to
them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." So Simon Peter went
over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even
though there were so many, the net was not torn. 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.
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Reflection:
Do you
sometimes feel spiritually weak and empty? You’re not alone, everyone of us
goes through this spiritual dryness. This is the reason why we sometimes feel
spiritually weak and empty.
After the
death of Jesus some of the apostles didn’t know that Jesus had already risen.
So they went back to their former work feeling spiritually empty and weak nonetheless
they have to move on with their lives. Feeling weak and empty they went fishing
and they returned ashore without anything at all.
Then
afterwards, lo and behold the risen Jesus appeared before them and He said to
them, have you caught any fish? They said no, so Jesus told them to throw it
once again onto the water. And they caught so many that they couldn’t bring it
anymore to shore.
In their
emptiness and weariness Jesus appeared to them to give them hope and to give
them strength. To tell them that I am again here with you, I have risen, I have
not abandoned you all even for a single second. I was with you as you struggle
with my death on the cross as I was with you as you felt your emptiness and
loneliness. Never have I abandoned you!
The same
is what Jesus is telling us all today as we also struggle with our journey with
Him. As we feel and face our own moments of emptiness and loneliness. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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