Daily Gospel Reflection
Join the Notre Dame family of faith. Receive God’s Word and a unique reflection in your inbox each day.
April 10, 2026
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.
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
Every time I hear a gospel story with Saint Peter in it, I’m reminded of a fellow grad student I was fortunate to sponsor for confirmation while at Notre Dame. She had chosen Peter as her confirmation saint, and I’ll always remember her describing what she admired about him: his child-like trust and total abandonment to love.
There are two things Peter does in today’s story that put these traits on display. First, he listens to good news. When the beloved disciple tells him, “It is the Lord,” Peter receives this piece of good news and acts on it with total trust, going so far as to jump out of the boat to swim to him instead of waiting the few extra moments it would take to get there in the boat with the others. It’s tempting when we hear good news to hold something back for fear of being disappointed. Peter’s example challenges us to receive it with our whole heart.
Second, Peter puts Jesus’ desires ahead of his own plans. I found it puzzling that Peter left behind the catch of fish to swim to shore when he had been the one to suggest the fishing trip in the first place. Then, the moment Jesus asks him to bring some of the fish, Peter finds the strength to drag the whole catch that all of the disciples had been unable to pull up together.
Peter knows he can do nothing of his own plans by himself, but when Jesus asks him, he can do the miraculous.
So I hope to learn through Peter’s example and intercession to detach from my own plans so I can listen for Jesus’ invitation and respond to his good news without restraint.
Prayer
Father, Peter’s love for your Son is but an echo of your love for us. Help us, like Peter, to love passionately—to leap out of our small boats and to rush to be with Jesus on the shores of the new life that he promises. Bless us with an abundant catch of souls, especially those furthest removed from your mercy today. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Magdalene of Canossa was born in 1774 to a very wealthy family in Verona, Italy. When Magdalene was only five years old, her father died in an accident, and she and her siblings were placed under the guardianship of their uncle Girolamo. Their family was an influential group of Italian nobles, and from a young age, Magdalene was brought up immersed in the Italian church. In 1791, Magdalene joined the Carmelites, trying to discern her religious vocation, but soon she left the convent, feeling dissatisfied with the Carmelite way of life.
Magdalene returned home to run the family estate, where her family entertained Napoleon several times. Napoleon and his army upset the social equilibrium of Europe, and many of the vulnerable and poor were left in even more dire situations. Magdalene saw the suffering and cultural upheaval all around her and felt that it was her call to serve the needs of those around her. She continued to study under the Carmelites as she made plans to found a new society.
Using her large inheritance, Magdalene founded the Canossian Daughters of Charity, who ministered to the people living in the slums of Verona. Someone donated an old convent to Magdalene, and then they added convents in Venice and Milan. Pope Leo XII gave his blessing to the new congregation in 1823. A zealous Italian priest, Francesco Luzzi, worked with Magdalene to found the Canossian Brothers of Charity, for men who wished to join in Magdalene's mission of care for the poor.
Magdalene died on April 10, 1835. But her order has thrived, spreading throughout the world, from Italy to India, and has added saints like Josephine Bakhita to its ranks.
Magdalene was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1941 and canonized over forty years later by Pope John Paul II in 1988.
St. Magdalene of Canossa, who used her great wealth to care for the poor—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Magdalene of Canossa is in the public domain. Last accessed February 17, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
