Daily Reflection for Friday, April 09, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040921.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 4:1-12
Responsorial: Psalm 118:1-2,4,22-24-25-27
Gospel: John 21:1-14
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
… Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus. John 21:4
Several times after Jesus’ resurrection we hear how he was not at first recognized by the disciples. Mary Magdalene, while visiting the tomb on Easter morning, meets Jesus but supposes him to be a gardener (John 20:15). On the road to Emmaus, Jesus walks and talks with two disciples, but until he breaks bread and blesses it, they do not know it was Jesus. (Luke 24:30-31) When he appears to the disciples in the upper room, they at first think he is some kind of spirit (Luke 24:37 or John 20:20) And in today’s gospel, Peter and most of the other disciples do not see it is Jesus speaking to them from the shore, until John says, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7)
One would think that the disciples, who had been his steady followers and companions for his three years of ministry would know him. If not in the first instances, then surely after he showed them his hands and feet and side. Perhaps Jesus was so transformed by his resurrection that even those who knew and loved him the most could not recognize him. Perhaps it was because he was no longer of this world and they were all using their human eyes and mind to see someone who was no longer human.
We’ve never seen Jesus as he was when he walked the earth as a man. And yet as believers we are called to see him in each other. Not just those we know, like, and love but in each person we encounter. Do we see Jesus in the mother whose children appear to be out of control, or the homeless beggar at the traffic light median? Do we recognize Jesus in the person who angrily disagrees with us on social media or the person shown on the news who has committed a crime? Do we “see” Jesus when we read or hear about the millions who are struggling in conditions of poverty, war, and all forms of injustice?
Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel, discovering Christ in each human being, recognizing him crucified in the sufferings of the abandoned and forgotten of our world, and risen in each brother or sister who makes a new start. – Pope Francis 3 October 2020
Easter blessings to all,
Andra Liepa