By Amala William csc –
Readings: Acts 4: 1-12; Jn 21: 1-14
In the 1st reading apostles Peter and John courageously proclaim Jesus’ glory who was put to death and rose again on the third day. Several people believed in their preaching because they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
In the gospel we see Simon Peter going back to his original profession of fishing despite witnessing the miracles of Jesus during his lifetime. In the sea after working the whole night they got nothing. After daybreak, the risen Jesus appears to them in their frustrating time. He did not utter any word of accusation to his disciples.
Rather, he showed the right direction to cast the net and when they listened to him they collected a large number of fish. Immediately Peter was reminded of his earlier bond which he had at the shore with him, so he jumped into the sea to meet the master. The master was preparing a breakfast to welcome his disciples with the table fellowship. I place myself in the place of Simon Peter, who experienced and personally confessed Jesus as the Messiah.
As a religious, I compromise the intensity of the vows that once I confessed in public. The responsibilities I took up in the name of the Lord, occasionally for my personal convenience I compromise and it is no longer the Lord’s mission but my personal ambition. The loving Lord is after me not to police but as a merciful Father who seeks after the lost one.
As they closely approached Jesus, they got the knowledge of him. It is very tough to accept the reality, being a professional in a particular field, when the things do not go well. We blame God and others as if we are perfect. The Lord is after us, even if we go away from him. The purpose of creating us can be fulfilled only by us. He wants not the successful ones, but faithful ones. Let us in prayer discern his will, and turn to him in joining the banquet of love.