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 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 hard 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, then 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