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.
The gift of faith opens our eyes to recognize the
risen Lord Jesus in our midst
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.
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 Gospel accounts, 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. John's prompt recognition of the Master - It
is the Lord! and Peter's immediate response to run to the Lord -
stands in sharp contrast to Peter's 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 accept his word with faith and trust?
"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, 354-430 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)
FRIDAY, APRIL
21, JOHN 21:1-14
Friday within the Octave of Easter
(Acts 4:1-12; Psalm 118)
Friday within the Octave of Easter
(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.
Friday
21 April 2017
Easter Friday. [St Anselm].
Acts 4:1-12. Psalms 117(118):1-2, 4, 22-27. John 21:1-14.
Acts 4:1-12. Psalms 117(118):1-2, 4, 22-27. John 21:1-14.
‘Jesus
came over and took bread and gave it to them.’ — John 21:1-14.
The stone
rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Today I am reminded of the
creation of Michelangelo’s David. Two other sculptors were commissioned to
create David before he was. It could be said that he was rejected twice before
he was chosen. Then he was presented with the block of marble that had already
been worked on by one of the other sculptors and since neglected for over 25
years. And yet from these humble beginnings was created what is arguably the
world’s most famous sculpture.
Every year millions of people come
to Florence to view this masterpiece. It gives us hope that, even as flawed as
we are, great beauty can be created through us.
ST. ANSELM
On April 21, the Catholic Church honors Saint Anselm, the 11th and
12th-century Benedictine monk and archbishop best known for his writings on
Christ's atonement and the existence of God.
In
a general audience given on Sept. 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI remembered St.
Anselm as “a monk with an intense spiritual life, an excellent teacher of the
young, a theologian with an extraordinary capacity for speculation, a wise man
of governance and an intransigent defender of the Church's freedom.”
St.
Anselm, the Pope said, stands out as “one of the eminent figures of the Middle
Ages who was able to harmonize all these qualities, thanks to the profound
mystical experience that always guided his thought and his action.”
Anselm
was born in Aosta, part of the Piedmont region of present-day Italy, around
1033. While his father provided little in the way of moral or religious
influence, his mother was a notably devout woman and chose to send Anselm to a
school run by the Benedictine order.
The
boy felt a profound religious calling during these years, spurred in part by a
dream in which he met and conversed with God. His father, however, prevented
him from becoming a monk at age 15. This disappointment was followed by a
period of severe illness, as well as his mother's early death.
Unable
to join the monks, and tired of mistreatment by his father, Anselm left home
and wandered throughout parts of France and Italy for three years. His life
regained its direction in Normandy, where he met the Benedictine prior Lanfranc
of Pavia and became his disciple.
Lanfranc
recognized his pupil's intellectual gifts and encouraged his vocation to
religious life. Accepted into the order and ordained a priest at age 27, Anselm
succeeded his teacher as prior in1063 when Lanfranc was called to become abbot
of another monastery.
Anselm
became abbot of his own monastery in1079. During the previous decade the
Normans had conquered England, and they sought to bring monks from Normandy to
influence the Church in the country. Lanfranc became Archbishop of Canterbury,
and asked Anselm to come and assist him.
The
period after Lanfranc's death, in the late 1080s, was a difficult time for the
English Church. As part of his general mistreatment of the Church, King William
Rufus refused to allow the appointment of a new archbishop. Anselm had gone
back to his monastery, and did not want to return to England.
In
1092, however, he was persuaded to do so. The following year, the king changed
his mind and allowed Anselm to become Archbishop of Canterbury. But the monk
was extremely reluctant to accept the charge, which would involve him in
further struggles with the English crown in subsequent years.
For
a three-year period in the early 12th century, Anselm's insistence on the
self-government of the Church – against the claims of the state to its
administration and property – caused him to be exiled from England. But he was
successful in his struggle, and returned to his archdiocese in 1106.
In
his last years, Anselm worked to reform the Church and continued his
theological investigations – following the motto of “faith seeking
understanding.” After his death in 1109, his influence on the subsequent course
of theology led Pope Clement XI to name him a Doctor of the Church in 1720.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 21,1-14
Lectio Divina:
Friday, April 21, 2017
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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