Friday within the Octave of Easter

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the day: RB 54 The Reception of Letters and Gifts in the Monastery

Mass: Ac 4:1-12; Resp Ps 118; Jn 21:1-14

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE;

LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD.

ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.

Jesus revealed himself in this way.

Today’s Gospel gifts us with ‘the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.’ With that in mind, I look to the Holy Father’s words: The Word of God is a light in the darkness: it helps us face our difficulties without fear (Pope Francis, Twitter, April 6, 2018). Spend some time with the Gospel accounts we have heard during the Octave. Think of the gamut of emotions the disciples have experienced these days: intense love, loss, grief, panic, confusion, amazement, belief, fear, peace, incredulity. These were difficult times. And today, maybe boredom sets in. Simon Peter declares: I am going fishing. It occurred to me that Peter returned to something he was familiar with, to calm himself, to give him direction at a time when he was not sure what to do. Now what? So, some of the other disciples join him. However, they caught nothing. More boredom—even more darkness of an emotional roller coaster. Defeat. What is the light that shines in the darkness—It is the Lord! The Word speaks:Children, have you caught nothing to eat? Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something. Come, have breakfast.

Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.

YOUR WORD IS A LAMP FOR MY FEET, A LIGHT FOR MY PATH.

(Ps 119:105)

Keep reading…Simon Peter finds out soon enough what he is to be about.

See Jn 21:15-19.

😊