On Easter Sunday morning, the angel gave instructions that
the disciples were to leave Judaea and go to Galilee where the would see the
Lord. Well, in today’s Gospel, the disciples have traveled to Galilee—to the Sea
of Tiberius, which is another name for the Sea of Galilee—and there they see
the Lord.
Now, notice that they’ve returned to Galilee, and they’re
not exactly looking that hard for Jesus. They aren’t preaching, teaching, healing,
or spreading the Gospel in his name. In fact, they seem to have reverted to
their old way of life—they’ve gone fishing.
Well, they might not have been looking that hard for Jesus,
but Jesus was looking for them. He makes himself visible to them, he calls out
them from the seashore, and when they approach him, Jesus says, “come have
breakfast”.
There is something unique about breakfast. Breakfast is not
a royal banquet, it’s a simple meal, typically shared with family. Breakfast is
informal; everybody might still be a bit disheveled before having their
favorite caffeinated beverage—not everyone is washed or totally awake. The
disciples, after a night of working, certainly fit this description. Like a
parent for children still groggy from sleep, the Lord makes breakfast for these
groggy children, he even calls them children. And in his closeness to them, in
sharing the meal, they recognize that it was the Lord.
Easter was 5 days ago, and we, like the disciples are
already a bit groggy. Our catechumens, initiated at the Easter Vigil are still wrapping their
minds and hearts about meeting Jesus in the Sacraments.
Maybe, since easter, we like the disciples retreating to
fishing, have retreated back into old bad habits already instead of allowing
Easter to change us. Maybe, since Lent is over, we haven’t been looking for
Jesus that hard in prayer. But it is good that we are here, at Mass. Weekday
Mass is so powerful, and I wish more people would come to weekday Mass, because
the Lord meets us here for an intimate family meal—like the Lord dining with
his disciples on the seashore--to feed us, to reorient us and strengthen our
faith for the work he has for us out in the world.
The Collect for Mass today asks God to dispose our minds
that the faith we celebrate may be expressed in our deeds. That’s exactly what
the Lord was doing on the seashore with the disciples, opening their minds to
the reality of his resurrection, that their faith might impel them into the
world. And he does the same thing here. May the reality and power of the Lord’s
resurrection animate our words and deeds today, for the glory of God and
salvation of souls.
Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to
graciously hear our prayers and supplications.
For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the
strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.
For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the
Risen Christ.
For our own community, that it may bear witness with great
confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold
fast to the faith they have received.
For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow
may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.
That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory
may come to the glory of the Resurrection.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject
to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the
prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.
