During these 40 days after Easter, it warms our hearts to read of the visits Our Lord made in His Risen Glory to His Apostles and disciples. Today, let's think about when He appeared by the Sea of Tiberias.
"Of all the narratives of Our Blessed Lord's Appearances to His friends after His Resurrection, this most exquisite story of the morning meeting on the beach seems to hold most lessons for the reader. There are so many beautiful and very touching details in this Gospel, written as it was by the inspred pen of the Apostle of Love himself -- details that each contain some mystery of symbolism, perhaps, closely affecting our own daily lives, and always of encouragement." ~ E. Seton, Sundays in the Garden of Easter, imprimatur 1921.
Our Lord had sent a message that the Apostles should return to Galilee and wait for Him there. So they went.
"While awaiting Him they had returned to the practice of their avocation of fishing -- a lesson in itself, that whatever we find to our hand we should do, not despising the simplest daily occupations or menial services even should we be waiting on God, as they were, for great things." ~ ibid.
But they worked all night and caught nothing.
"Shall we grumble where they were patient? Especially as Jesus stands on the shore of our lives also, counting our efforts, ready to show us the greatness of our catch when morning shall come. 'To try in God's service is always to succeed,' says Mother St. Paul. '"Nothing" often means "success" when it is translated into the language of the Kingdom of Heaven. What God asks for is not success, but efforts continuous and sustained, battles fought, difficulties and suffering faced for Him and for His glory only.'" ~ ibid.
Our Lord tells them to cast their net on the right side, and they pull in a huge draught of fish. John, the perceptive, melancholic one, says, "It is the Lord!" And Peter, the sanguine, impetuous one, jumps overboard to swim to Him.
"Morning by morning Jesus stands on the shore of Eternity, drawn close to us by His priests' words of Consecration, standing in Sacramental vesturing of white, greeting us tossed on the waves of time... 'Children, have you any meat?' He asks in His own loving, considerate way -- our needs and disappointments mean so much to Him." ~ ibid.
Let us recognize Him like John, and rush to Him like Peter. He has all that we need. He waits for us with Arms outstretched.
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