Word to the Wise
Friday, April 21, 2017 - Octave of Easter - Fri
[Acts 4:1-12 and John 21:1-14]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. [John]
The last chapter of the Gospel According to John is a wonderful challenge to go back and readthe entire gospel so as to understand why this chapter is called the "Johannine appendix." For the moment, I will only point out that the last verse of chapter 20 seems to end the gospel, only to have it pick up again at 21:1! Time and space won't let me say as much as I'd like except to challenge my readers to read the entire chapter today, beginning with that last verse from chapter 20. I have quoted from one of the "themes" in the chapter and offer it, but there is much more.
One of my scripture professors back in my seminary days said that this scene is the most important beach barbecue in history! Note that the bread and fish recall the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in chapter 6 of the gospel. The big catch of fish echoes the story in Luke 5:1-11. However, in this version, which also echoes the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), the disciples come to the meal already believing in Jesus. That is the position in which we find ourselves today.
We "go to Mass" and "go to communion" many times in our Catholic lives. We have been invited and commanded by Jesus to do this in "remembrance of me." We bring all that we have accomplished with his help (that huge catch) and find that he has prepared more ahead of us and calls us to his table. He reveals himself to us over and over again. The Eucharist can become a simple spiritual "habit," simply because we receive it often, but it is a moment of revelation and power. AMEN
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