Friday
in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 265
Lectionary: 265
After
the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
“Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
“Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
Responsorial
PsalmPS 118:1-2 AND 4, 22-24,
25-27A
R.
(22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaPS 118:24
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 21:1-14
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.
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.
Meditation: "Jesus revealed himself again to the
disciples"
Why didn't the apostles
immediately recognize the Lord when he greeted them at the Sea of Tiberias?
John gives us a clue. He states that Peter had decided to return to his home
district of Galilee, very likely so he could resume his fishing career. Peter
was discouraged and didn't know what to do after the tragedy of Jesus' death!
He went back to his previous career out of despair and uncertainty. The other
apostles followed him back to Galilee.
When was the last time
Peter was commanded to let down his net after a futile night of fishing? It was
at the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Galilee when the Lord dramatically
approached Peter in his fishing boat after a futile night of fishing and
commanded him to lower his nets (see Luke 5:4-11).
After the miraculous catch, Jesus told Peter that he would be 'catching
people" for the kingdom of God. Now Jesus repeats the same miracle. John,
the beloved disciple, is the first to recognize the Lord. Peter impulsively
leaps from the boat and runs to the Lord. Do you run to the Lord when you meet
setbacks, disappointments, or trials? The Lord is ever ready to renew us in
faith and to give us fresh hope in his promises.
Skeptics who disbelieve
the resurrection say the disciples only saw a vision of Jesus. The Gospels,
however, give us a vivid picture of the reality of the resurrection. Jesus went
out of his way to offer his disciples various proofs of his resurrection - that
he is real and true flesh, not just a spirit or ghost. In his third appearance
to the apostles, after Jesus performed the miraculous catch of fish, he
prepared a breakfast and ate with them. Peter's prompt recognition of the
Master - It is the Lord! - stands in sharp contrast to his
previous denial of his Master during the night of Jesus' arrest. The Lord Jesus
reveals himself to each of us as we open our hearts to hear his word. Do
you recognize the Lord's presence in your life and do you receive his word with
faith?
"Lord Jesus, you
are the Resurrection and the Life. Increase my faith in the power of your
resurrection and in the truth that you are truly alive! May I never doubt your
life-giving word nor stray from your presence."
Daily Quote for Easter
Week: Resurrected
Bodies, by Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.
"The bodies of the
righteous at the resurrection will need neither any fruit to preserve them from
dying of disease or the wasting decay of old age nor any bodily nourishment to
prevent hunger and thirst. For they will be endowed with such a sure and
inviolable gift of immortality that they will not eat because they have to, but
only if they want to. Not the power but the necessity of eating and drinking
shall be taken away from them... just like our Savior after his resurrection
took meat and drink with his disciples, with spiritual but still real flesh,
not for the sake of nourishment, but in an exercise of his power."(excerpt from City
of God 13.22)
SOLEMNITY OF FRIDAY
WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, JOHN 21:1-14
(Acts 4:1-12; Psalm 118)
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, JOHN 21:1-14
(Acts 4:1-12; Psalm 118)
KEY VERSE: "It is the Lord!" (v 7).
TO KNOW: After the resurrection, Peter and six other disciples went fishing. In the half-light of the morning, the Risen Christ called to them from the shore, telling them to cast their nets to the right side of the boat. Although they had fished all night and caught nothing, their obedience brought forth a great draught of fish. John was the first to understand the meaning of this sign and cried "It is the Lord!" Peter was the first to act, swimming and dragging the heavily laden net to shore. Although the net held a great catch of fish it was not torn. The unbroken net is a symbol of the future mission of the Church to bring souls to Christ. St. Jerome claimed that the Greeks identified 153 species of fish in the sea. The miraculous catch included every kind of fish; therefore, the number symbolized the day when all of the nations would be gathered together in God's kingdom. When Jesus' disciples assembled on the shore, he shared a meal with them, distributing bread and fish just as he did in the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish in the wilderness (Jn 6:1-13). The Risen Christ was not a vision or a spirit, nor was he a ghost. He was the Lord who conquered sin and death by his dying and rising.
TO LOVE: Do I allow the Lord to direct me despite my doubts as to the outcome?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, guide all my words and deeds so that I will bring many souls to you.
APRIL FOOL'S DAY
Ancient cultures, including those as varied as the Romans and the Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on April 1, which closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.). In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the New Year. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (Gregorian) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated January 1. Communications being what they were in those days, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1. These backward folk, labeled as "fools," were subject to ridicule and made the butt of practical jokes. The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. - Mark Twain
Friday 1 April 2016
Fri 1st. Easter Friday.
Acts 4:1-12. The stone rejected by the builders has
become the cornerstone—Ps 117(118):1-2, 4, 22-27. John 21:1-14.
An abundant catch.
On our cute little family holidays, my dad and
brothers used to go fishing while Mum and I went and looked at craft or
second-hand bookshops. Let’s just say, we never ate an abundance of dad and the
boys’ catch, and it would have annoyed mum anyway had they returned with a
trout, as she’d have had to cook it. Today’s reading is about an abundant
catch. It recounts the third appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his
death. Truthfully, upon hearing that scripture I would impiously wonder how
anyone could stomach eating fish for breakfast, but I digress. In the spiritual
life, periods of emptiness are necessary. That is why we fast during the season
of Lent. And with Easter comes the abundant new life in Christ. May we reflect
today on emptiness and abundance, and consider their presence in our lives.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 21,1-14
Lectio Divina:
Friday, April 1, 2016
Easter Time
1) Opening prayer
Our God and Father,
through our risen Lord, your Son Jesus Christ,
you have given us a message of hope
and a person to live for.Free our faith from triviality and routine
and fill us with his Spirit of courage,
that we may learn to live
with the insecurities of the change of renewal
ever-demanded by the gospel
and by the needs of the times.
May our Christian living bear witness
to the name of him by whom we are saved,
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
through our risen Lord, your Son Jesus Christ,
you have given us a message of hope
and a person to live for.Free our faith from triviality and routine
and fill us with his Spirit of courage,
that we may learn to live
with the insecurities of the change of renewal
ever-demanded by the gospel
and by the needs of the times.
May our Christian living bear witness
to the name of him by whom we are saved,
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - John 21, 1-14
Later on, Jesus revealed himself again
to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this:
Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons
of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, 'I'm
going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll come with you.' They went out and got into
the boat but caught nothing that night. When it was already light, there stood
Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
Jesus called out, 'Haven't you caught anything, friends?' And when they
answered, 'No,' he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find
something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the
quantity of fish.
The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.
As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, 'Who are you?'. They knew quite well it was the Lord.
Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.
The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.
As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, 'Who are you?'. They knew quite well it was the Lord.
Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.
3) Reflection
• Chapter 21 of the Gospel of Saint John
seems like an appendix which was added later after the Gospel had already been
written. The conclusion of the previous chapter (Jn 20, 30-31) makes one
perceive that it is an addition. However, whether it is an addition or not, it
is the Word of God which presents us the beautiful message of the Resurrection
on this fifth day of Easter week.
• John 21, 1-3: The fisherman of men returns to be a fisherman of fish. Jesus has died and has risen. At the end of three years of life together with Jesus, the disciples returned toward Galilee. A group of them find themselves together before the lake. Peter goes back to the past and says: “I am going fishing!” The others answer: “We will come with you!” Thus, Thomas, Nathanael, John and James together with Peter go to the boat to go fishing. They go back to the life of the past as if nothing had happened. But something did happen. Something was taking place! The past did not return! “We have caught nothing!” They go back to the shore, tired. This had been a night filled with frustration.
• John 21, 4-5: The context of the new apparition of Jesus. Jesus was on the shore, but they did not recognize him. Jesus asks: “Little children, have you anything to eat?” They answered: “No!” In the negative response they realize that the night had been deceiving because they had caught nothing, no fish. They had been called to be fishermen of men (Mk 1, 17; Lk 5, 10), and they go back to be fishermen of fish. But something had changed in their life! The experience of three years with Jesus produces in them an irreversible change. It was no longer possible to return to the past as if nothing had happened, as if nothing had changed.
• John 21, 6-8: “Throw the net out to the right of the boat and you will find something” They did something which perhaps they had never done in their life. Five experienced fishermen obey a foreigner who orders them to do something which is in contrast to their experience. Jesus, that unknown person, who is on the shore, orders them to throw the net on the right side of the boat. They obey; they throw the net, and behold the unexpected result. The net was full of fish! How was this possible! How to explain this surprise so unexpected, unforeseen! Love makes one discover. The beloved disciple says: “It is the Lord”. This intuition clarifies everything. Peter jumped into the water to get close to Jesus very quickly. The other disciples follow him, pulling the boat, and dragging the net full of fish.
• John 21, 9-14: The kindness of Jesus. Coming ashore, they saw a charcoal fire which had been lit by Jesus, where he was roasting fish and bread. He asked them to take some of the fish they had caught and immediately Peter went to the boat and towed the net containing one hundred and fifty fish. A great number of fish and the net did not break. Jesus calls the multitude: “Come and eat!” He had the kindness to prepare something to eat after a deceiving night during which they had caught nothing. A very simple gesture which reveals something of God’s love for us. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14, 9). None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, Who are you, because they knew he was the Lord. And recalling the Eucharist, John, the Evangelist contemplates: “Jesus stepping forward took the bread and gave it to them”. Thus, he suggests that the Eucharist is the privileged place for the encounter with the Risen Jesus.
• John 21, 1-3: The fisherman of men returns to be a fisherman of fish. Jesus has died and has risen. At the end of three years of life together with Jesus, the disciples returned toward Galilee. A group of them find themselves together before the lake. Peter goes back to the past and says: “I am going fishing!” The others answer: “We will come with you!” Thus, Thomas, Nathanael, John and James together with Peter go to the boat to go fishing. They go back to the life of the past as if nothing had happened. But something did happen. Something was taking place! The past did not return! “We have caught nothing!” They go back to the shore, tired. This had been a night filled with frustration.
• John 21, 4-5: The context of the new apparition of Jesus. Jesus was on the shore, but they did not recognize him. Jesus asks: “Little children, have you anything to eat?” They answered: “No!” In the negative response they realize that the night had been deceiving because they had caught nothing, no fish. They had been called to be fishermen of men (Mk 1, 17; Lk 5, 10), and they go back to be fishermen of fish. But something had changed in their life! The experience of three years with Jesus produces in them an irreversible change. It was no longer possible to return to the past as if nothing had happened, as if nothing had changed.
• John 21, 6-8: “Throw the net out to the right of the boat and you will find something” They did something which perhaps they had never done in their life. Five experienced fishermen obey a foreigner who orders them to do something which is in contrast to their experience. Jesus, that unknown person, who is on the shore, orders them to throw the net on the right side of the boat. They obey; they throw the net, and behold the unexpected result. The net was full of fish! How was this possible! How to explain this surprise so unexpected, unforeseen! Love makes one discover. The beloved disciple says: “It is the Lord”. This intuition clarifies everything. Peter jumped into the water to get close to Jesus very quickly. The other disciples follow him, pulling the boat, and dragging the net full of fish.
• John 21, 9-14: The kindness of Jesus. Coming ashore, they saw a charcoal fire which had been lit by Jesus, where he was roasting fish and bread. He asked them to take some of the fish they had caught and immediately Peter went to the boat and towed the net containing one hundred and fifty fish. A great number of fish and the net did not break. Jesus calls the multitude: “Come and eat!” He had the kindness to prepare something to eat after a deceiving night during which they had caught nothing. A very simple gesture which reveals something of God’s love for us. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14, 9). None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, Who are you, because they knew he was the Lord. And recalling the Eucharist, John, the Evangelist contemplates: “Jesus stepping forward took the bread and gave it to them”. Thus, he suggests that the Eucharist is the privileged place for the encounter with the Risen Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Has it ever happened to you that
someone has told you to throw the net to the right side of your life, to do
something contrary to your experience? Have you obeyed? Have you thrown in the
net?
• The kindness of Jesus. How is your kindness in the small things of life?
• The kindness of Jesus. How is your kindness in the small things of life?
5) Concluding Prayer
Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Let those who fear Yahweh say,
'His faithful love endures for ever.' (Ps 118)
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Let those who fear Yahweh say,
'His faithful love endures for ever.' (Ps 118)
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