Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 26, 2019
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.
On the night before my flight to Paris for the semester, I established a motto to define this semester: Do what I truly want to do. This goal has encouraged me to pursue new people and experiences that lead me toward my best self, as well those that have led me away from it. Since I set that goal, I’ve realized that what I desire isn’t always the best path for me. Only God knows my best path; it’s my responsibility to listen to God’s voice.
But how can I trust which voice is God’s? In today’s reading, the disciples do not immediately recognize Jesus’ voice either. Who is this stranger to tell us what to do? But, when they cast their nets, the disciples come to recognize the presence of the Lord. The disciples recognize Christ’s voice by recognizing that Christ’s actions are those of God.
It’s often in the gentle, indirect voice encouraging us, despite our doubts, to cast out our nets where we find the voice of Jesus. The disciples exemplify how we can recognize the voice of God: discernment. Like a friend whose voice and mannerisms you can recognize immediately, we can become so familiar with God’s expectations for us—through Scripture, prayer, and serving our neighbor—that we can hear in our soul the voice which promises everlasting fulfillment, that encourages us to take a risk and cast our nets.
God speaks to us from the shore. But we are the ones driving the boat. I can choose whether to keep fishing on my own, catch nothing, and leave Paris unfulfilled, or I can obey the voice of God, cast out the net, and live in the abundance that God promises.
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
Devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel began as devotion to a particular image of Mary in Genazzano, Italy.
For many years, the town of Genazzano dedicated its tithes to the construction of the beautiful basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome. In return, a church was built in Genazzano, and the Augustinian friars took charge of the church in 1356. Many pilgrims flocked to the church to pray to Mary.
The image of Our Lady of Good Counsel, shown here, purportedly appeared miraculously on the wall of the church when it had fallen into disrepair.
Art experts say that the image is from the early fifteenth century, the only surviving portion of a much larger fresco that had covered the church walls.
As pilgrims flocked to Genazzano and asked for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel, they attributed miracles and cures to Our Lady's intercession, and devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel spread throughout Italy. In 1903, Pope Leo XIII added the title to the Litany of Loreto, which honors Mary.
Popes, councils, and leagues of women have invoked her patronage and guardianship. She is the patron of the town of Essen in Germany and many of her devotees wear a white scapular as a sign of their trust in Mary.
One of the mottos inscribed on the scapular is a quote of Pope Leo XIII: "Child, listen to her counsels." Our Lady of Good Counsel is an apt title for Mary that reminds us that we can look to her as a wise mother to guide us. As Mary offered herself completely to God, to bring the divine plan of Salvation to completion, she is an excellent guide for us as we seek to make Christ's plans for us complete in our own lives.
Mary's counsel will always lead us back to her Son, our God, and therefore we can always trust that it will be very, very good.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, our mother and guide—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of Our Lady of Counsel is in the public domain. Last accessed February 21, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
