Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 9, 2021
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.
At the time of this resurrection appearance, Jesus has already appeared to the disciples and told them, “as the Father sent me, so I send you.” (Jn 20:21) I doubt that Jesus was talking about sending them back to their old profession of fishing and yet that is where we find Simon Peter leading the others in the gospel passage today.
What could be wrong with fishing? It seems like an honest way to make a living: hard work, tangible results, useful products. But the problem here is that the disciples are going back to square one. They seem to not understand that Jesus is sending them out to the world to spread the Good News and they are, perhaps, falling back on their previous profession.
This is why the very next verses in the Gospel include Jesus asking Peter if he truly loves him and instructing him to “feed my lambs.” (Jn 21:15-17) Jesus needs to impress upon Peter that loving the Lord entails serving his people.
We all have our own fishing boats: our careers, our ambitions, our identities bound up with worldly success. But we, like Peter and the other apostles, are witnesses to the resurrection. How will we “feed his lambs?”
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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
St. Waldetrudis grew up in the 7th century, a daughter in a family of extraordinary holiness. Both parents, her sister, her husband, and their four children are all venerated as saints.
After marrying a young nobleman, and raising their young children, she convinced her husband to become a monk. After two years, Waldetrudis also withdrew from the world, but she refrained from joining a convent because she wanted to live a more austere life. Instead, she lived a simple life of prayer in a very small, humble house. She performed many works of mercy and was known for miracles of healing that happened through her intercession when she was alive and after her death.
Many people began to seek her out for advice, so she eventually founded a convent of her own. Even though she established the convent, she lived there as a common member, not as the leader of the community. That convent now stands at the center of the town of Mons in Belgium.
St. Waldetrudis, you were the wife and mother who stood at the center of a family of saints—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Waldetrudis is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed February 17, 2025.