Sunday April 7, 2024
Theme: “Meeting the Risen One”
Text: John 21:1-7
1. After this Jesus again showed himself to the disciples on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias. And this is how he showed himself. 2. Simon Peter, Thomas, called Didymus, Nathanael, of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus, were together. 3. Simon Peter said to them: I am going fishing. They said to him: We also go with you. They went out and got into a boat, and that night they took nothing. 4. When morning came, Jesus found himself on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5. Jesus said to them: Children, have you nothing to eat? They answered him: No. 6. He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find. So they threw it away, and they could not take it out again, because of the great quantity of fish. 7. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: It is the Lord! And Simon Peter, as soon as he heard that it was the Lord, put on his garment and his girdle, for he was naked, and threw himself into the sea.
Let's remember:
As soon as Jesus gave up his ghost, Peter went through all the stages: he was the one who betrayed his Master, he ran to the tomb when he learned that he was resurrected, he resumed his old fishing activity. And despite all this, he stripped himself naked among his fellow students. To be naked means to lack obedience to God, to be without divine covering, to be within the reach of the devil, to be without hope. It was because of the encounter with the resurrected one that he converted and fell into the water to hide his nudity. The encounter with the risen changes the direction of life. Every bad thing that began to take place must leave to meet the resurrected one. Peter recognized his state as a naked man, fell into the water and came out renewed. It’s like the symbol of baptism. Jesus knew that his disciples were not yet accomplished and ready for the mission. He was still following them to complete their training. So he showed them where the fish were gathered. He who had no knowledge of fishing, it is He who shows them the hiding place of the fish. It is because he is the Creator that he knows his creature best. It is because it is the water of life that it knows the fish habitat better. The encounter with the resurrected one makes us discover the hidden things that are only known by God. The encounter with the resurrected person is the moment of unprecedented revelation. Jesus was concerned about their hungry state. He gave them something to eat. Since Jesus sees us, let us remain clothed in holiness. Excellent Sunday. Amen
Alain Louz.-