Wednesday within the Octave of the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord
Posted on April 12, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. John 21:1-14 (NKJV)
21:1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Devotion
Our Lord Jesus continued to remind, teach, and strengthen His disciples after His resurrection. His death was a profound event, and these men were emotionally shaken. But they needed to be prepared for the profound work that God would continue through them!
Our resurrected Lord used familiar events, even familiar miracles, to remind these men that the things they had seen and heard from Him were most certainly true. They would indeed be made fishers of men who would proclaim the Gospel of Christ crucified, gathering people into the holy Church from all nations. They would indeed continue to celebrate the Holy Supper of the Lord, where He taught them to break bread and eat and drink according to His commands, proclaiming the Gospel of His death and resurrection in the Sacrament. And they would indeed go forth and confess Jesus Christ throughout the world, teaching others to know God in the Son.
We all have moments where we lose sight of God’s promises and wander off to other concerns. But He is merciful, and He calls us back to His truth through the Word, Sacraments, and life of His faithful Church so that we can fulfill the good work He has prepared for us according to His benevolent will!
Prayer: Almighty God, Who, through Thine Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech Thee, that, as Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
