Friday, April 25, 2025

 Friday in the Octave of Easter

 (Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

 “The one who loves much, does much.”  The actions of Peter on behalf of Jesus in today’s Scriptures witness to this simple test of love.  Love moves the chief apostle in the reading from Acts to confront the Jewish leaders who recently negotiated Jesus’ execution.  In the gospel, love inspires him to rush into the water with clothes on to greet the risen Lord. 

 As courageous and spontaneous as Peter’s love for Jesus is, it only shadows Jesus’ love for him and for the rest of us.  St. Paul surely captures the heart of the gospel when he writes: “...God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).  His death has gained for us the forgiveness of sin.  But that is only half of the wonder of God’s love.  His resurrection – the other half – bestows on us life in abundance.

Peter’s actions suggest how we might show our love for Christ.  We too can confront sin by naming it and repenting of it.  There may be people in our lives for whom we harbor resentment.  We must acknowledge our deliberate dislike as sin, pray for healing grace, and make serious effort to approach those people in charity.  Likewise, we should lose no time in meeting the Lord in the Eucharist.  Coming early to pray quietly and to preview the Scripture readings will deepen our encounter with the risen Lord.

Friday, April 5, 2024

Friday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

Ken Untener was bishop of Saginaw, Michigan, for twenty-four years.  He was a gifted preacher with a fine sense of humor.  More importantly, he was dedicated to the service of Christ’s flock.  A number of years ago a book of his homilies was published posthumously.  It was entitled My Name Is Ken and I Will Be Your Waiter a Long, Long Time.  The name of Jesus might be substituted for Ken to understand today’s gospel.

Like a waiter, Jesus provides food for his guests.  He will be serving his disciples until the end of time.  His food will nourish them so that they might go out and tell others about God’s love.  In today’s gospel his food is bread and fish, the same that he fed to the multitudes on the hills of Galilee.  These are symbols for his very self – his body and his spirit – that sustain his disciples in hardship and bring them true happiness.

As we come forward to receive Jesus’ body and spirit, we identify with Christ’s disciples.  We should also identify with them by telling others of Jesus’ ever-gracious care.

 

Friday, Apil 22, 2022

 Friday within the Octave of Easter

 (Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

 In every mass this week – actually from Monday to Sunday – the gospel tells of an appearance of the risen Jesus.  Although the accounts bear marks of editorial expansion, they assure readers of the resurrection as a fact of history.  The resurrection is a trans-historical event.  This means that it has never been duplicated in history.  But reliable witnesses testify that Jesus appeared to them in the flesh.  Their stories, especially when considered in total, explain the empty tomb.  Thus the stories go beyond circumstantial evidence for the resurrection.

 Today’s gospel appearance takes place on the Sea of Tiberius.  It may seem strange that Jesus’ disciples would return to their former occupations after seeing Jesus.  After all, he equipped them with the Holy Spirit to forgive sins.  Yet many people who have had profound religious experiences begin to question their beliefs.  Sometimes they become almost indifferent to what happened to them.  Jesus, true to his promise, does not abandon his disciples in their questioning.  Rather, he appears to them again and reissues the mandate to go forth and preach forgiveness.  This is expressed symbolically in today’s passage when he says, “’Cast your net over the right side…’”

 Many people dismiss the gospel accounts of the resurrection appearances.  They see them as fishing stories; that is, exaggerations of wonderful experiences.  These skeptics challenge us believers to explain the possibility of the stories’ ever taking place.  We should respond to the challenge in at least two ways.  First, we need to study the gospel accounts with the help of faithful commentators so that we may provide explanation of their plausibility.  Second, we want to testify to their veracity by living truly changed and holy lives.

 

Friday, April 9, 2021

 Friday within the Octave of Easter

 (Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

 In every regular mass this week – actually from Sunday to Sunday – the gospel provides an account of an appearance of the risen Jesus.  Although these accounts bear some marks of editorial expansion, they assure readers of the resurrection as a fact of history.  The nature of the resurrection is actually trans-historical which means that it has never been duplicated in history.  But reliable witnesses testify that Jesus appeared to them in the flesh.  Their stories, especially when considered in total, provide an explanation of the empty tomb, the circumstantial evidence for the resurrection.

 Today’s gospel appearance takes place on the Sea of Tiberias.  It seems strange that Jesus’ disciples would return to their former occupations after being commissioned to go forth with the Holy Spirit and forgive sins.  Yet many people who have profound religious experiences begin to question their beliefs and may become almost indifferent to what happened to them.  Jesus, true to his promise, does not abandon his disciples but appears to them again to reissue the mandate to go forth and preach forgiveness.  This is expressed symbolically as he says, “’Cast your net over the right side…’”

 Many people dismiss the gospel accounts of the resurrection appearances as exaggerated dramatizations of psychological experiences, literally fish stories.  Skeptics challenge us believers to explain the possibility of the stories’ ever taking place.  We should respond to the challenge in at least two ways.  First, we need to study the gospel accounts with the help of faithful commentators so that we may provide some explanation of their reasonableness.  Second, and perhaps more importantly, we want to testify to their veracity by living holy lives.

Friday, April 17, 2020

Friday in the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

Ken Untener was bishop of Saginaw, Michigan, for twenty-four years.  He organized the diocese so well that he found time to give workshops on preaching nation-wide.  A few years ago a book of his homilies was published posthumously.  It was entitled My Name Is Ken and I Will Be Your Waiter a Long, Long Time.  The name “Jesus” might be substituted for “Ken” to understand today’s gospel.

Like a waiter, Jesus has food prepared for his guests.  He will be serving his disciples until the end of time.  The food that he gives them here -- bread and fish – is representative of himself.  It indicates how Jesus nourishes different dimensions of his disciples’ lives.  First, it is regular food.  As the Lord of creation, Jesus feeds his disciples’ bodies literally every day.  Then it is the “bread of life.”  Jesus gives “food for thought” by enlightening their minds with true wisdom.  Finally, it is food for their souls – Jesus’ own body and blood.  This food enables them to love as he loved so that they may have eternal life.

For eight consecutive days we are fed in the Eucharist with an account of a resurrection appearance.  These stories fortify our faith so that we might live as humans recreated in divine love.  The world challenges us daily -- physically, mentally, and spiritually.  By holding fast to our Easter faith we can overcome its wiles.

Friday, April 26, 2019

Friday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

In every mass this week – actually from Monday to Sunday – the gospel tells of an appearance of the risen Jesus.  Although the accounts bear marks of editorial expansion, they assure readers of the resurrection as a fact of history.  The resurrection is a trans-historical event.  This means that it has never been duplicated in history.  But reliable witnesses testify that Jesus appeared to them in the flesh.  Their stories, especially when considered in total, explain the empty tomb.  Thus the stories go beyond circumstantial evidence for the resurrection.

Today’s gospel appearance takes place on the Sea of Tiberius.  It may seem strange that Jesus’ disciples would return to their former occupations after seeing Jesus.  After all, he equipped them with the Holy Spirit to forgive sins.  Yet many people who have had profound religious experiences begin to question their beliefs.  Sometimes they become almost indifferent to what happened to them.  Jesus, true to his promise, does not abandon his disciples in their questioning.  Rather, he appears to them again and reissues the mandate to go forth and preach forgiveness.  This is expressed symbolically in today’s passage when he says, “’Cast your net over the right side…’”

Many people dismiss the gospel accounts of the resurrection appearances.  They see them as fishing stories; that is, exaggerations of wonderful experiences.  These skeptics challenge us believers to explain the possibility of the stories’ ever taking place.  We should respond to the challenge in at least two ways.  First, we need to study the gospel accounts with the help of faithful commentators so that we may provide explanation of their reasonableness.  Second, we want to testify to their veracity by living truly changed and holy lives.

Friday, April 21, 2017

Friday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

Ken Untener was bishop of Saginaw, Michigan, for twenty-four years.  He organized the diocese so well that he found time to give workshops on preaching nation-wide.  Two years ago a book of his homilies was published posthumously.  It was entitled My Name Is Ken and I Will Be Your Waiter a Long, Long Time.  The name of Jesus might be substituted for Ken to understand today’s gospel.

Like a waiter, Jesus has food prepared for his guests.  He will be serving his disciples until the end of time.  His food will nourish them so that they might go forth and tell others about God’s love.  In the gospel his food is bread and fish.  These are symbols for his very self – his body and spirit – that sustain his disciples in hardship and bring them true happiness.

We come forward to receive Jesus’ body and spirit in the Eucharist.  Doing so, we identify with Christ’s disciples.  We then have to go out to others telling them of God’s ever-gracious care. 

Friday, April 10, 2015

Friday in the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

Resurrection means, of course, that Christ is no longer dead but alive.  His body has ascended to heaven, but his Spirit is free to be with others.  It should not be thought that this Spirit is merely a common sentiment which people share when reminiscing about times past.  Rather his Spirit -- the Holy Spirit -- is a dynamic force that transforms people inwardly so that they might fulfill Christ’s mission.  Today’s gospel dramatically describes this process.

Have the disciples really returned to their fishing profession?  It would be extraordinary after receiving the commission of the Lord in his previous appearances to them.  But perhaps fishing is being used as a metaphor to describe missionary activity.  In the image employed by the other gospels they have become “fishers of men.”  It is laborious work which can yield nothing unless blessed by the Lord.  Under his tutelage, as seen in today's reading, its results are bountiful.  The crew is then pictured as meeting Jesus in the meal to which he invites them.  There they hear his words which guide them and consume his food which nourishes them. 

The gospel passage suggests Jesus’ presence to us as well as to his immediate disciples.  He engages us in our daily occupations.  There we too can produce marvelous results on behalf of our families, communities, and society.  Attentive to the words he speaks in the gospel and fortified by his body and blood received in the Eucharist, we are prepared to bring his mission of redemption to completion.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Friday of the Octave of Easter

(Acts 3:11-26; John 21:1-14)

“It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”  This reportedly Confucian proverb was adopted by the Christophers, a humanist movement founded by Maryknoll Father James Kelleher in the middle of the last century.  Adherents saw themselves as bringing Christ, the light of the world, to others.  One can see the importance of having Christ in mind in today’s gospel.

The resurrection appearance occurs after Peter and six other disciples have been fishing all night without success.  They may have already started cursing their luck when Jesus harkens them as the rising sun from the shore.  He tells them to throw their net on the right side of the boat.  Following his directive brings an extraordinary catch.  Evidently the 153 fish represent all the different types in zoological records at the time signifying, of course, that they will convert all the nations. 

We should not allow ourselves to fret when challenges amount or frustrations arise.  Rather we are wiser and more successful when we turn to the Lord in our need.  We might ask ourselves, “How would he have us act?” And we should always ask his assistance.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Friday in the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

Resurrection means, of course, that Christ is no longer dead but alive. His body has ascended to heaven, but his Spirit is free to be with us. We should not think of this Spirit as merely a common sentiment like people share when reminiscing about the “the good old days.” Rather his Spirit -- the Holy Spirit -- is a dynamic force that transforms us interiorly so that we might fulfill Christ’s mission. Today’s gospel describes the working of Jesus’ Spirit with rich symbols.

Have the disciple’s really returned to their old fishing profession? It would be extraordinary after receiving the commission of the Lord in his previous appearances to them. But perhaps fishing is the metaphor for their preaching. They have become “fishers of men.” It is laborious work which may yield nothing unless blessed by the Lord. Under his tutelage, however, its results are bountiful. The crew actually meets Jesus in the meal to which he invites them. There they hear his words which guide them and consume his food which nourishes them.

The gospel passage suggests Jesus’ presence to us as well as to his immediate disciples. He engages us in our daily occupations. There we too can produce marvelous results on behalf of our families, communities, and society. Attentive to the words he speaks in the gospel and fortified by his body and blood received in the Eucharist, we are prepared to bring his mission of redemption to completion.

Homilette for Friday, April 17, 2008

Friday in the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

Resurrection means, of course, that Christ is no longer dead but alive. His body may have ascended to heaven, but his Spirit remains with us. We should not think of this Spirit as merely a common sentiment like people share when reminiscing about the “the good old days.” Rather his Spirit is a dynamic force that transforms us interiorly so that we might fulfill his mission. Today’s gospel describes the working of Jesus’ Spirit with rich symbols.

Have the disciple’s really returned to their old fishing profession? It would be extraordinary after receiving the commission of the Lord in his previous appearances to them. But perhaps fishing is the metaphor for their preaching. They have become “fishers of men.” It is laborious work which may yield nothing unless blessed by the Lord. Under his tutelage, however, its results are bountiful. The crew actually meets Jesus in the meal to which he invites them. There they hear his words which guide them and consume his food which nourishes them.

The gospel passage suggests Jesus’ presence to us as well as to his immediate disciples. He engages us in our daily occupations. There we too can produce marvelous results on behalf of our families, communities, and society. Attentive to the words he speaks in the gospel and fortified by his body and blood received in the Eucharist, we are prepared to bring his mission of redemption to completion.