Gospel: John 21:1-14
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 abandoned by Jesus? There are
times that we go through some arid stages in our lives. We feel abandoned by
our friends, relative and even Jesus, But does Jesus abandon us? Perhaps our
friends and relatives would abandon us especially when they become rich or
achieve an exalted status in life. But Jesus abandoning us? Never will He
abandon us!
With the death of Jesus the disciples had no other
option but to go back to their former way of life: none other than fishing. It
must have been difficult for them to go back fishing for they’ve been detached
from it for three long years. Perhaps they even thought that they would never
go back to fishing but something tragic happened to their Lord and
Master.
Therefore there was no other choice for them but to go
back to their former job as fishermen. From being fishermen they became fishers
of men and now they go back again to being real fishermen. After three long
years they went fishing for the very first time, it must have been very hard
for them. Perhaps when they were at sea they were still thinking of Jesus and
terribly longing for His presence. That’s why they failed to concentrate on
fishing in the process they caught nothing.
Then the feeling of weariness, loneliness and the
feeling of being abandoned was immediately replaced by joy and hope when they
saw Jesus waiting for them ashore. Jesus asked them, have you caught anything?
They said none, afterwards, Jesus told them; Put once again your nets at sea
where you are right now. No need for you to go far, drop it where you are right
now. And then the miracle happened they caught an enormous number of
fish.
Relating this gospel with our personal journey with
Jesus. There would also be episodes of weariness, loneliness and perhaps
feeling of abandonment. But in the midst of these episodes let us stay the
course for Jesus will make His way back to us when we least expect it. Never
will He leave much less abandon us for He will always be there for us.
– Marino J. Dasmarinas
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