‘It is the Lord!’

 Third Sunday of Easter Year C - 1st May 2022

Gospel John 21: 1–19 (part)

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, 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.

It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. He called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something’. So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words, Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish.

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 to the shore. 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 showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come to my place of prayer and relax into God’s presence in the way I usually do. In time I read the text slowly.

What strikes me when I consider the disciples or Peter? How do I identify with them?

Do I stand back or do I move towards Jesus?

And what of Jesus’s own actions and words?

... His gentle suggestion, his calm normality, his thoughtfulness in cooking breakfast, his sharing in the meal ...

How do these things make me feel? I speak to him of what is in my heart.

Later, I might read the remainder of the text, but for now I spend time in silence, or in thanksgiving for the resurrection, telling the Lord of my love.

I end my prayer with a Glory be ...