The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the challenges in teaching Jesus Way and reassure us of His continuing support of our mission as fishers of people.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Peter’s Witness before the Sanhedrin.
* [4:1] The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees: the priests performed the temple liturgy; the temple guard was composed of Levites, whose captain ranked next after the high priest. The Sadducees, a party within Judaism at this time, rejected those doctrines, including bodily resurrection, which they believed alien to the ancient Mosaic religion. The Sadducees were drawn from priestly families and from the lay aristocracy.
* [4:11] Early Christianity applied this citation from Ps 118:22 to Jesus; cf. Mk 12:10; 1 Pt 2:7.
* [4:12] In the Roman world of Luke’s day, salvation was often attributed to the emperor who was hailed as “savior” and “god.” Luke, in the words of Peter, denies that deliverance comes through anyone other than Jesus. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving liturgy.
* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29).
* [118:22] The stone the builders rejected: a proverb: what is insignificant to human beings has become great through divine election. The “stone” may originally have meant the foundation stone or capstone of the Temple. The New Testament interpreted the verse as referring to the death and resurrection of Christ (Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; cf. Is 28:16 and Rom 9:33; 1 Pt 2:7). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John proclaims Jesus' appearance to the Seven Disciples.
* [21:1–23] There are many non-Johannine peculiarities in this chapter, some suggesting Lucan Greek style; yet this passage is closer to John than Jn 7:53–8:11. There are many Johannine features as well. Its closest parallels in the synoptic gospels are found in Lk 5:1–11 and Mt 14:28–31. Perhaps the tradition was ultimately derived from John but preserved by some disciple other than the writer of the rest of the gospel. The appearances narrated seem to be independent of those in Jn 20. Even if a later addition, the chapter was added before publication of the gospel, for it appears in all manuscripts.
* [21:2] Zebedee’s sons: the only reference to James and John in this gospel (but see note on Jn 1:37). Perhaps the phrase was originally a gloss to identify, among the five, the two others of his disciples. The anonymity of the latter phrase is more Johannine (Jn 1:35). The total of seven may suggest the community of the disciples in its fullness.
* [21:3–6] This may be a variant of Luke’s account of the catch of fish; see note on Lk 5:1–11.
* [21:9, 12–13] It is strange that Jesus already has fish since none have yet been brought ashore. This meal may have had eucharistic significance for early Christians since Jn 21:13 recalls Jn 6:11 which uses the vocabulary of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper; but see also note on Mt 14:19.
* [21:11] The exact number 153 is probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles’ universal mission; Jerome claims that Greek zoologists catalogued 153 species of fish. Or 153 is the sum of the numbers from 1 to 17. Others invoke Ez 47:10.
* [21:12] None…dared to ask him: is Jesus’ appearance strange to them? Cf. Lk 24:16; Mk 16:12; Jn 20:14. The disciples do, however, recognize Jesus before the breaking of the bread (opposed to Lk 24:35). (John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)
Maureen McCann Waldron comments that Jesus had come to shower Peter with love and forgiveness, and to let him know that it was Peter’s very humanity, his love and, yes, his enthusiastic bumbling at times, that made Peter – this flawed sinner – the right person to lead the group into the future.
All of us may have had times when we feel distant from Jesus. Our flaws or our busyness have kept us from prayer and conversation with him. Like Peter, we can be blind to Jesus’ presence in our lives. But it’s never too late to recognize the one who loves us endlessly, the one standing before us with open arms. We can peer out from Peter’s boat through the dark of night, and recognize that he is standing there, waiting for us – waiting to feed us.
Today in these post-Easter days, we can put down our fears and look to Jesus who wants to welcome us back to shore with kindness, warmth and breakfast.
No matter how long we have been gone. (McCann, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Resurrected Bodies,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The bodies of the righteous at the resurrection will need neither any fruit to preserve them from dying of disease or the wasting decay of old age nor any bodily nourishment to prevent hunger and thirst. For they will be endowed with such a sure and inviolable gift of immortality that they will not eat because they have to, but only if they want to. Not the power but the necessity of eating and drinking shall be taken away from them... just like our Savior after his resurrection took meat and drink with his disciples, with spiritual but still real flesh, not for the sake of nourishment, but in an exercise of his power." (excerpt from City of God 13.22) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 21:1-14 comments that the instinct to run toward Jesus develops over time through a growing relationship with him. Jesus’ magnetism had drawn Peter from the start. Then, as his relationship with Jesus deepened, he was drawn more and more deeply toward him—even as he maintained his impetuous, passionate ways!
Jesus remains just as compelling today. Deep within, we all long to jump out of our boats and run toward him. Even if there are times when you feel unworthy to be in his presence or when temptation seeks to hold you back, that longing is still there. So the next time you feel an inner tug to be near to the Lord, act on it! Drop what you’re doing (if you can) and turn your heart toward him. Every time you do, you’ll discover greater freedom and joy—just as Peter did!
“Lord, help me to hear when you call me today and to respond by running toward you!” (Meditation on John 21:1-14, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the arrest of Peter at the direction of the Sadducees after he proclaims the kerygma identifying Jesus as the cornerstone. The sign of the great catch of fish impells the impetuous Peter to jump into the water to reconnect with Jesus. Friar Jude notes that the vertical and horizontal aspects of our faith are joined by our missionary mandate to be fishers of people.
Brian McLaren encourages us to make Easter an expansive celebration of resurrection. He asks what might happen if every Easter we celebrated the resurrection not merely as the resuscitation of a single corpse nearly two millennia ago, but more—as the ongoing resurrection of all humanity through Christ?
Easter could be the annual affirmation of our ongoing resurrection from violence to peace, from fear to faith, from hostility to love, from a culture of consumption to a culture of stewardship and generosity … and in all these ways and more, from death to life. What if our celebration of Easter was so radical in its meaning that it tempted tyrants and dictators everywhere to make it illegal, because it represents the ultimate scandal: an annual call for creative and peaceful insurrection against all status quo based on fear, hostility, exclusion, and violence? (McLaren, n.d.)
We ponder our missionary charge to invite people to join us as we are fed by the Resurrected Jesus, the keystone of our lives, with the Spirit that brings love, compassion, forgiveness, and joy to our lives.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?1
John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/21?1
McCann, M. (2025, April 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042525.html
McLaren, B. (n.d.). An Ongoing Celebration. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-ongoing-celebration/
Meditation on John 21:1-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/25/1261879/
Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Revealed Himself Again to the Disciples. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr25
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