Our Lord never holds back in extending generosity and forgiveness to those who want His mercy
Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter (May 5, 2019): ACTS 5:27-32,40-41; PS 30:2,4,5-6,11-12,13; REV 5:11-14; JN 21:1-19
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
In this post-Resurrection meeting that recalls their earliest encounters, several of the Apostles including Peter and John set out in a boat to catch fish, but without success. From shore, Jesus tell them to try again.
Although they fail to recognize Him, they do what He says and they bring in 153 fish. Meanwhile Christ waits for them with a fire and food. “Jesus said to them, ‘Come, have breakfast.’ And none of the disciples dares 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” (John 21:12-14). These friends and Apostles who followed our Lord to become fishers of all men and women see His power revealed once more. And these men, who were humbly served by Jesus at the Last Supper, again find themselves looked after and nourished by Him.
The Apostles’ time with our Savior was dwindling and He still had much to teach them. They need to accept their own powerlessness and their dependence on the Son of God. He did not choose them to be the foundation of His Church because of their own goodness or strength or virtue. Jesus loves them and will supply all that is lacking in them. It is up to them to open their souls to His mercy and guidance. And, despite their human imperfections, and their past sins, they do just that. And so can we if we trust in our Lord.
Suggested missionary action: We can pray that each day we grow in understanding of Christ’s love for us and His desire for us to return His love and to share it with all we meet. And that means being willing to serve our neighbors in their time of need.
