Friday in the Octave of Easter (April 6, 2018): What's stopping you?

Thứ Năm, 05-04-2018 | 14:50:45

Today’s Readings:

Acts 4:1-12
Ps 118:1-2,4,22-27a
John 21: 1-14
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040618.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_04_06.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.

Good News Reflection: What’s stopping you?

Are you involved in a ministry or service that needs a resurrection? Perhaps you’ve been working on something for a long time and have not yet succeeded. Does it seem like your efforts are pointless, fruitless? Where has progress been too slow or too lethargic? Are you hedged in and unable to do what you believe you’re called to do? Is it time to cast your net over the other side of the boat, as in our Gospel reading today?

In today’s first reading, Peter and John experience the first roadblock in their preaching ministry. They are put into prison because someone wants to stop them. The next day, they will be ordered by the authorities to never mention Jesus publicly again.

Would this have stopped you? What is stopping you now?

Peter and John knew that when it comes to doing God’s will, there’s no such thing as an insurmountable obstacle. They could easily recall two incidents of fishing all night without success and then catching an abundance because they had obeyed Jesus.

Our only true obstacle is our lack of endurance. In reality, when we’re tired and we think that we’ve failed, we’re actually in the middle of building up to a great success that’s far more wonderful than we can imagine. It might not be the outcome we’re expecting, it might not be in the direction we started, but it will happen just as surely as Peter and John were released from prison to continue fulfilling God’s plans — if we persist in following Jesus.

Usually, he tells us to do something that does not make sense or feels very uncomfortable. Jesus told the disciples to fish in the very same waters where they had already cast their nets unproductively! What difference did it make to try the other side of the boat? It was uncomfortable to change, because they had developed muscles and a good working pattern of swinging the net one way. The advice Jesus gave them was like telling a right-handed artist to paint with his left hand in order to produce a masterpiece.

Are you ready to try something that doesn’t make sense? Go ahead and do whatever will stretch you beyond what feels logical and comfortable. If it seems like a “wrong” direction, but the “right” direction hasn’t been working, as long as it doesn’t conflict with scripture or Church teaching, go ahead and assume that it is Jesus talking to you. Move boldly into it and trust that if you’re making another mistake, God will get your attention and redirect you again.

Today’s Prayer:

Jesus, Lord: Heal me from everything that stops me from being aware that You are alive within me, and that You are immensely good and wonderful. Amen.

Tags: Good News Reflection, Holy Gospel according to John., Octave of Easter