Gospel: John 21:1-19
The
gospel reading of today contains two significant episodes that unveil the
futility of human effort without God and the difference it makes when Jesus
comes into our struggle. Firstly, Peter was about giving up on Jesus for the
guilt of denying him three times during his trial; and again this man he has
followed for three years is now dead. And so he returned to his old habit of
fishing. The Disciples labored all the night without catching anything in spite
of their skill and professionalism. However, when Jesus came ashore and ordered
them to dip their net into the sea, the difference was clear for their net
caught what they could not carry.
Secondly, Jesus invites the disciples for a breakfast with
him. Here, Jesus welcomes Peter back into friendship with him which was soiled
during his trial. Three times
Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?” This corresponds to the three times Peter
denied him before a servant girl during his trial. This is probably Peter’s
first dialogue with Christ after his resurrection. It’s quite amazing how Jesus
entrusted his flock to the man who denied him three times. Peter’s encounter
with Christ filled him with such a relief from guilt and gave him fresh zeal.
It was this encounter of the risen Christ that strengthened him and other
disciples to preach fearlessly before the authorities and defiling all human
threats and warning to stop preaching Christ. As we see in the first reading of
today.
Brothers and sisters, Like Peter and the other disciples we have
our difficult moments when all our efforts yield no positive results. Sometimes
we labor had to restore our marriage or friendship which is collapsing but
things are getting worse. We toil daily under the heat of the sun but we hardly
can foot our bills. Many who are graduates walk from one office to another
seeking for employment, all to no avail. Think about those who have sat for the
same examination several times without good result. May be we have been doing
it in our own way. We think the power to restore our lives to normalcy lies in
hands
Remember that Jesus showed
up when the fishing has gone bad. As soon as he told them what to do, they did
it and the result was bounteous. Jesus makes the difference. Christ has not hid
his presence from us since he rose from the dead. He is always beside us in our
struggle. But do we recognize and listen to him in our difficult moments? Unless
we humble ourselves and bend ourselves to the way God wants it, we shall
continue to run round the circle. Remember that the disciples were professionals when it comes
to fishing. They applied all their skills in fishing all through the night
without making any catch until Christ entered. Without doubt, you are intelligent
and smart; you are hard working and you got all it takes to be at the top. But
these cannot guarantee your success. Only God can.
More so, today Jesus is inviting us to a new love
relationship with him like Peter. It doesn’t matter how dirty the road we have
trodden in the past is. Peter’s encounter with Jesus made him a new creature. This
new Peter started a new life of grace and power after meeting with the
resurrected Christ. Our safety is always guaranteed when we love God. Christ
will always be there for us to deliver us from every obstacle.
