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April 9, 2021“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it”. (Psalm 118: 24) This gospel acclamation is sung during the Easter Octave. Nathanael, Zebedee’s sons, and the two other disciples who joined Peter when he said, “I am going fishing”, were not rejoicing after spending a night on the sea of Tiberias without catching anything – not even a small fish.
The crippled man cured by Peter may have rejoiced until he heard that Peter and John were persecuted because of the good deeds done “in the name of Jesus Christ”. Is Jesus the inventor of the “grilled fish po’boy” sandwich as my late Dominican brother Philip Lamberty, O.P. claimed? I don’t know. What we know from today’s gospel is that besides revealing Himself to the disciples for the third time, Jesus causes Peter and his fishing partners to “rejoice and be glad” for at least two other reasons. First, he instructs them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” It was more than something. “So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish”. Then, He invites them to “bring some of the fish… just caught” and “come, have breakfast.” It was a special breakfast of fresh grilled fish with the “catch of the day” prepared by the “King of kings”. When one is tired after a sleepless night and hungry, anything would do. I guess, the grilled fish on bread, probably toasted perfectly on the charcoal fire, was “divine.”
The Risen Lord continues to reveal Himself to us. He challenges us to listen to Him, especially when we face stressful times – fishing or not. Not only He shows us the way, but He feeds us the best bread, source of a more complete rejoicing when received in a state of grace. We cannot enjoy His signature “grilled fish po’boy,” at the best “fish fry” or the most famous restaurants. However, He is offering still something much better, the “Bread of Life,” which is “His Body and Blood” sacrificed for our salvation once and for all.
Praise to You Lord for this wonderful gift! May we be blessed to recognize You, share Your Good News, “be glad and rejoice” this Easter season! Amen!
