Remember Ash Wednesday?
How long ago was it ?
Seems like eons ago. Our readings today are suggesting for us to reflect on what we have learned about ourselves and our faith since Ash Wednesday of this Liturgical Year. Since we have been in social distance mode there is much time to reflect and consider what all of us are supposed to learn.
One thing I’ve learned is that I don’t listen enough to what God is saying. Since advent of church on line it seems that we miss the connection with Eucharist and fellow believers even more. Myself, I try to connect more with old friends on the internet. I found a buddy named, Delbert, that I was great friends with in Grand Forks, North Dakota in the 1970’s. We were happily involved in Catholic Singles group. We won the door prize at a costume party. It was the broken door to an old washing machine. We had fun. New connection and renewed connections. Maybe that is what Jesus is doing for us today, a renewed connection.
Look at our Gospel today. The Apostles were reflecting as well. They were hungry so they went back to something they knew which was fishing. However, they had fished all night and got nothing in their nets for all their human effort. This must have been frustrating. I am impatient and frustrated, also.
Jesus knew their yearnings and said to them bring some of the fish you have caught and have breakfast. The scripture goes on to say, none of the Disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord… This was the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. ”
The disciples were still in shock since the Resurrection. Pentecost was still a ways off. Their world had been totally turned around as had all of Israel. Jesus was taking it slow to let his message sink into the minds of his disciples who were in the first Major seminary. They were is training and so are we today.
The gospel today reminds us that our faith is centered around food. The food is the bread of life. The apostles were first fed the Bread of Life on Holy Thursday. They missed that food and Jesus knew this. Today, since the pandemic we are yearning for that food as well. Peter was so anxious for it that he jumped out of the boat before it arrived at shore. They were hungry for that connection.
In the first reading from Acts, the Sadducees asked, ” By what power or by what name have you done this? They did not realize it yet but they were hungry too. Peter and John respond to their hunger by saying In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean.…. there is no salvation through anyone else.
We will soon be fed. That is our hope and that hope is in the Name of Jesus Christ. More will be revealed. Listen for Jesus Christ speaking to you in the boat. Salvation is through no one else. He is our cornerstone.
God Bless Your Always
Bob Burford
Pray for our first responders, doctors,nurses, grocery clerks, truckers, small business owners and everyone risking their lives for us.
