The Word Amon Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Friday, 10 April 2015

The Word Amon Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Friday, 10 April 2015

Meditation: John 21:1 After this, Yeshua appeared again to the talmidim at Lake Tiberias. Here is how it happened: 2 Shim‘on Kefa and T’oma (his name means “twin”) were together with Natan’el from Kanah in the Galil, the sons of Zavdai, and two other talmidim. 3 Shim‘on Kefa said, “I’m going fishing.” They said to him, “We’re coming with you.” They went and got into the boat, but that night they didn’t catch anything. 4 However, just as day was breaking, Yeshua stood on shore, but the talmidim didn’t know it was he. 5 He said to them, “You don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered him. 6 He said to them, “Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some.” So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn’t haul it aboard. 7 The talmid Yeshua loved said to Kefa, “It’s the Lord!” On hearing it was the Lord, Shim‘on Kefa threw on his coat, because he was stripped for work, and plunged into the lake; 8 but the other talmidim followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; for they weren’t far from shore, only about a hundred yards. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread. 10 Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Shim‘on Kefa went up and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153 of them; but even with so many, the net wasn’t torn. 12 Yeshua said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the talmidim dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Yeshua came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Yeshua had appeared to the talmidim after being raised from the dead.
Friday within the Octave of Easter
I am going fishing. (John 21:3)
Jesus’ resurrection left the disciples with much to think about. And yet, for all that had changed, today’s Gospel reading shows that some things remained the same. Peter and the others still had to eat. They still had to take care of their families. And, wonder of wonders, they still could rely on Jesus to work wonders in their lives.
This wasn’t the first time that Jesus helped Peter and the others with a miraculous catch of fish. A similar thing happened at the very beginning of their discipleship (Luke 5:1-11). But now, at the end of their time with him, just as he is about to send them out to preach and build the Church, Jesus shows that he has no intention of leaving them alone. He may be ascending to heaven, but he will still be with them. He will continue to open up new and brighter horizons for them.
Many of us have examples of God having worked in our lives in the past. Perhaps it was a dramatic healing or conversion. Maybe it was a gradual sense of his presence that changed our way of thinking. Maybe he helped us mend a broken relationship. These are all wonderful experiences that we should treasure. But they’re not the end of the story! Today’s Gospel tells us that when God steps into our lives, things change—and they keep on changing. Step by step, milestone by milestone, the Holy Spirit works to bring us closer to Jesus. Even the ordinary, everyday aspects of our lives can take on new and deeper meaning—simply because of God’s presence.
Is God stepping more deeply into your life right now? Yes! As much as he has done already, he wants to do even more. He wants to give you a greater sense of belonging to him. He wants to strengthen the friendships you have that are founded on him. He wants to guide you in your work and in your family. Every day, he asks you to cast your net into the sea of his grace so that you can receive deeper and deeper blessings.
“Jesus, I know you have more to give me. Help me not to be satisfied with what I already have. Lord, I want to be a generous receiver of your grace!” Amen!
Acts 4:1 Kefa and Yochanan were still speaking to the people when the cohanim, the captain in charge of the Temple police, and the Tz’dukim came upon them, 2 very annoyed that they were teaching the people the doctrine of resurrection from the dead and offering Yeshua as proof. 3 The Temple police arrested them; and since it was already evening, they put them in custody overnight. 4 However, many of those who heard the message trusted; the number of men alone was about five thousand.

5 The next day, the people’s rulers, elders and Torah-teachers assembled in Yerushalayim, 6 along with ‘Anan the cohen hagadol, Kayafa, Yochanan, Alexander and the other men from the family of the cohen hagadol. 7 They had the emissaries stand before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”

8 Then Kefa, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done for a disabled person, if you want to know how he was restored to health, 10 then let it be known to you and to all the people of Isra’el that it is in the name of the Messiah, Yeshua from Natzeret, whom you had executed on a stake as a criminal but whom God has raised from the dead, that this man stands before you perfectly healed.

11 “This Yeshua is the stone rejected by you builders which has become the cornerstone.[a] 12 There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!”[Footnotes:

Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22]

Psalm 118:1 Give thanks to Adonai; for he is good,

for his grace continues forever.

2 Now let Isra’el say,

“His grace continues forever.”

“His grace continues forever.”

22 The very rock that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone!

23 This has come from Adonai,

and in our eyes it is amazing.

24 This is the day Adonai has made,

a day for us to rejoice and be glad.

25 Please, Adonai! Save us!

Please, Adonai! Rescue us!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai.

We bless you from the house of Adonai.

27 Adonai is God, and he gives us light.

Join in the pilgrim festival with branches

all the way to the horns of the altar.

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