The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Friday in the Octave of Easter, challenge us to be bold agents of our Christian mission to preach the Good News with our loving and healing action.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Peter 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 part of a thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts.
* [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).
* [118:25] Grant salvation: the Hebrew for this cry has come into English as “Hosanna.” This cry and the words in Ps 118:26 were used in the gospels to welcome Jesus entering the Temple on Palm Sunday (Mk 11:9–10). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John presents the Appearance to the Seven Disciples in Galilee.
* [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).
* [21:14] This verse connects Jn 20 and 21; cf. Jn 20:19, 26. (John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)
Steve Scholer asks “Are we, like Simon, being asked by Jesus to share the Good News and become fishers of men?”
Are we being called to be more than just dutiful parishioners who share our income with the church each Sunday when the offering plate is passed?
If we agree with the call-to-action Jesus shared with Simon, then our challenge is to expand our efforts beyond reading in private our Daily Reflection and become active in how we live our faith in service to others. How can we become more involved in our faith community? How can we demonstrate that Christ is the center of our lives? How can we live our faith with those who share our beliefs and help guide into the net of safety those who are on the fringe of society, who are disenfranchised, weak or lonely?
Our gifts to support the church are worthy, but our active participation in the Gospel is the real work of the church that Jesus wants and needs us to do. Maybe we need to remind ourselves of the old adage, “Walking with Christ means walking like Christ.” (Scholer, n.d.)
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 Jesus once told the apostles that he had come so that we might have “life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). And what is he giving us in abundance? Not just fish or bread or wine. In Peter’s case, it was mercy! The same is true for us. However low we have fallen, his mercy never runs dry. He will always restore us to himself when we come to him.
God’s abundance extends even beyond mercy: he “does not ration his gift of the Spirit” (John 3:34). Just as the Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost, he has come to us—not just at Baptism and Confirmation, but with a new outpouring every time we ask for it. And just as the Spirit blessed Peter and the other disciples with the gifts and power to “feed [his] sheep,” so the Spirit gives us the strength, power, and grace to do the same (21:17).
We often tend to focus on what we lack. Today, think instead of how abundantly you’ve been blessed. Then thank the risen Lord for all he has done for you!
“Jesus, I praise you for the new life you have won for me!” (Meditation on John 21:1-14, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today. Peter and John had healed the crippled beggar and the people heard the kerygma preached about Christ. The religious leaders are upset and Peter declares he had acted in the name of Jesus who had been put to death by the authorities but filled with boldness in the Spirit, Peter proclaims Jesus' resurrection. In the Sea of Galilee people fished in the cool water of the night but they had not caught fish. A person on the shore urges them to try the other side and the catch is declared to be 153 fish. Impetuous Peter jumps in the water recognizing that Jesus is serving fish and bread. This event is a reminder of the Eucharisic Chapter in John Ch 21. Friar Jude comments this sign is about proclaiming the Good News. The total number of fish species was thought to be 153 and this is a sign that they are to catch everyone in their nets.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how it’s possible to experience resurrection through experiencing God’s love. He believes the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus is summed up in the climactic line from the Song of Songs: “Love is stronger than death” (8:6). In Christian art, the risen Christ often holds a blank, white banner; if that banner should say anything, it should say: “Love will win!” Love is all that remains. Love and life are finally the same thing, and we know that for ourselves once we have walked through death.
Remember, Love has you. Love is you. Love alone, and your deep need for love, recognizes love everywhere else. Remember that you already are what you are seeking. Any fear “that your lack of fidelity could cancel God’s fidelity, is absurd” (Romans 3:3), says Paul. Love has finally overcome fear, and your house is being rebuilt on a new and solid foundation. This foundation was always there, but it took you a long time to find it, for “It is love alone that lasts” (1 Corinthians 13:13). All you have loved in your life and been loved by is eternal and true. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We ask the Spirit to inform our understanding that the abundance of life is realized as we adopt a life mission of love for all of Creation.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?1
John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/21?
Meditation on John 21:1-14. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/10/1540741/
Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Resurrection Is Possible Now. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/resurrection-is-possible-now/
Scholer, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-10-2026
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Revealed Himself Again to the Disciples. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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