Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 17, 2020
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.”
He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
“But the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.”
I’ve always loved the rich imagery in today’s gospel of the resurrected Christ preparing a simple breakfast on the beach, but this line, one which is very easy to gloss over when reading the story, is valuable to reflect upon amidst the trying times through which we are living.
We are all called to discern Christ’s presence and workings in our lives, yet this is not always an easy task. John’s remark that the disciples do not initially recognize Jesus can be very frustrating to read since we might ask ourselves how we are ever supposed to recognize Christ in our lives when his own disciples, who followed him for years, do not even do so when he appears to them physically and directly calls out to them from the shore.
As we endure the pains of this global pandemic, many of us may find it especially difficult to recognize and understand where Christ is amidst all the suffering and changes in our lives. Personally, I’ve struggled to see how Christ can possibly be present in the separation from friends that has come with the sudden upending of my last semester at Notre Dame. I’ve struggled to hear and recognize Christ’s voice as I contemplate the likelihood that I may not see many of those friends again in person for a very long time.
However, Easter gives us the faith that Christ is there abiding with us in our personal struggles, even when we do not recognize his presence. Though we must practice prayerful discernment to recognize the means through which he is speaking, the resurrected Lord is always calling out to us with deep love.
Prayer
Father in heaven, the Gospels remind us that Jesus’ first followers struggled to know the implications of the new life promised them by his rising from the dead. These days, as we strive to live in the joy of the resurrection of Christ your Son, with “Alleluia” on our lips and echoing within our hearts, help us to recognize him everywhere he manifests himself: in the work we do, the company we keep, and the meals we share. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Innocent was sentenced to become a martyr in the early Church, but he miraculously escaped and became a leader of the Christian community.
He was born in the fourth century to Christian parents living through a persecution in Tortona, which is in the north of Italy. His parents were exempt from the persecution by a special privilege, but that privilege did not extend to their children. When Innocent was a young man, his parents died, and he was brought before the authorities and tried for being Christian.
Innocent refused to sacrifice to the imperial gods, and was tortured and sentenced to die at the stake. The night before he was to be executed, he had a dream in which his father told him to go to Rome at once, where he would be safe.
Innocent woke up from the dream and found his guards asleep. He escaped from the prison and went to Rome. The pope received him and he eventually became a deacon for the community there. After Constantine became emperor and ceased the persecutions, Innocent was sent back to Tortona as bishop. He led the Church there for 28 years, building new churches and spreading the faith.
St. Innocent died around the year 350 and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Innocent, you escaped execution and later become bishop of the city where you were imprisoned—pray for us!