Friday within Easter Octave : 22nd April 2022

The key message in today’s Scripture reading is clear – we are called to be a “fisher” of men and women and can catch nothing without the assistance of the Lord. In the Gospel passage, the dramatic story about the lack of success experienced by the disciples in catching fish during the night is followed by enormous success with the presence and guidance of Jesus at daylight.

Besides helping them with their catch, Jesus is also present to prepare a meal for them. The charcoal fire sets the scene for Jesus as the giver of bread (and fish) to the disciples. The disciples bring the plentiful catch of fish (humanity) to the meal (eucharist) prepared by the Lord. The number 153 symbolises the universal and abundant mission which Jesus gives His community of disciples, the Church. Therefore, the story of the miraculous catch of fish suggests the apostolic mission of Christ given to His disciples to gather people from everywhere into the Church, and the meal at the lakeside recalls the eucharistic presence of the risen Lord in the Church.

The episode in the passage from the Acts of the Apostles shows that the mission of Christ is carried out with boldness by the Apostles. These men, considered uneducated and simple people by the Jewish leaders, now boldly proclaim that Christ is the Messiah and that they will obey only God. They can only do this because they believe that the Lord is with them to assist them.

Lord, may You be the source and goal of all that we do.