Prayer in Eastertime

Memorial of Mary of Clopas who stood near the cross of the Lord with the other women. Prayer for all women in every part of the world who follow the Lord in difficulties and with courage. We remember Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was killed by the Nazis in the concentration camp of Flossenbürg in 1945.
In Israel is Yom Hashoàh, the day of the memory of the Shoah, in which the extermination of the Jewish people by the Nazi during the Second World War is remembered.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Christ is risen from the dead
and will die no more.
He awaits us in Galilee!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 21,1-14

Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll come with you.' They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night. When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, 'Haven't you caught anything, friends?' And when they answered, 'No,' he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land. As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, 'Who are you?'. They knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Christ is risen from the dead
and will die no more.
He awaits us in Galilee!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Apostles, who had left their nets to become fishers of people (Lk 5:10), returned to being fishers of fish. Maybe Jesus' memory continued to gather them at least a little bit. Seven of them gathered to go fishing together. In the symbolic language dear to the evangelist, "seven" is a symbolic number indicating universality. The small group is like the seed of the Church that is scattered throughout all nations. It is like a new beginning. Not by chance the evangelist indicates everyone by name. Certainly, without Jesus, their catching fish is a total failure. Without the light of the Gospel there are no fruits. But with Jesus' approaching, the light of sunrise shines forth on a new day. They see him and yet they do not recognize him, for they are so caught up in their resignation. And yet, although they are tired, they obey the words of that man. Perhaps the habit to listen to the Gospel- how important to make of listening a daily practice! - urges them to cast the nets on the other side. Obedience to the Gospel is never without fruits. This is why, the catch is abundant beyond any measure. At this point they recognize the Lord. The fruits of the Gospel, the miracles of love open the eyes and the hearts of those seven disciples. That day they understood better what Jesus had told them in the past: "Apart from me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). Jesus had already prepared for them the embers and he waits for the fish they caught. This is the banquet of the risen Jesus with his friends. The words of the Evangelist recall those used in the multiplication of the loaves and in the Eucharist. Indeed, it is the celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgy and the meal with the poor that build the community of the disciples as the place of the celebration that the Father who is in heaven prepares already on earth.