Wednesday in Easter Week
O GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection: mercifully grant that through the transient feasts which we do keep, we may become worthy to attain unto joys eternal; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
For the Epistle - Acts 3:12-19a
Gospel - John 21:1-14
John’s Gospel contains by far the most post-resurrection material than the other three Gospels combined. John 20 contains the resurrection proper and Easter Day events and the appearance to Thomas. John 21 & 22 deals with the important matter of what is referred to as the restoration of St. Peter. Today’s Gospel contains the story of the miraculous catch of fish.
In Bp. Robert Barron’s masterpiece video series Catholicism, he offers a brilliant insight to this story that I had previously never heard, but makes this event so rich in its details. How appropriate that the call of Peter involves a night of unsuccessful fishing, and his restoration also involves a miraculous catch. Yet, that’s not the insight that Bp. Barron brings to light.
There’s a peculiar detail right in the middle of the story. The text says that, “when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.” Notice the clause that’s in parenthesis, and then the phrase which precedes it. It says that Peter was naked, and when he heard that is was the Lord, he put on his fisher’s coat. When Bp. Barron then made the connection between Adam and Eve hearing God’s voice, recognizing they were naked, and covering themselves, and Peter hearing the voice of Jesus, recognizing his nakedness, and his covering himself, I was thrilled to hear his analysis. Adam and Eve had their sinfulness before their very eyes, and they could not face God. Peter had just denied his Lord thrice, and his sinfulness was before his very eyes, and he too could not face God. Adam and Eve knew they were naked and covered themselves, and so did Peter. Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden with the promise that the serpent’s head would be crushed under the foot of the one to come. Peter experienced that crushing in person, and also was able to experience Christ’s forgiveness in such a personal way. The connection between this Gospel lesson and Genesis 3 was a profound revelation, and I’m grateful for that insight from Bp. Barron.
I pray that my Lenten disciplines will continue even throughout this season of feasting, and that I might continue to curb my sinfulness through the assurance of Christ’s forgiveness. Adam and Eve were left that experience, Peter saw it first-hand. May we follow in those same footsteps.
ALMIGHTY GOD, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Χριστός ἀνέστη!
Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
Christus resurrexit!
Resurrexit vere!
Christ is Risen!
Truly, He is Risen!