Friday in the Octave of Easter
If you’ve experienced a significant loss in your life, you may have heard or experienced the wisdom of the advice to return to your normal, everyday activities as soon as possible. Having recently lost my mother, I can appreciate this wisdom, although not necessarily easy to do. Sometimes we take comfort in doing what’s familiar or even just necessary, like eating. Today’s gospel passage (John 21:1-14) reminds me of this as we hear of Simon Peter, after all that he and the others have witnessed and been through, likely grief-stricken, saying, “I am going fishing.” And sure enough, several of the other disciples that were with him decided to come along too.
Maybe they were hungry, or didn’t know what else to do, so they did what they had done many times before: they went fishing. And it was during this very ordinary act that they encountered the risen Christ. After helping them catch a tremendous amount of fish, Jesus invites them to breakfast on the shore. Reminiscent of their Last Supper together, the author tells us, “Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.” In this simple act of hospitality Jesus reveals himself to his disciples once again.
Whether you’re currently experiencing a loss, or simply returning to the ordinary of day-to-day life after the Easter holiday, may your eyes and ears, minds, and hearts, be open to encountering Jesus in the ordinary – even during this non-ordinary liturgical season. As today’s gospel acclamation reminds us, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” Amen. Alleluia.
—Eileen Miller