Jesus gives us the perfect example of love.  He wants us, who call him ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ to do together also what he has done for us.

Together are some followers of Jesus.  They are less than twelve.  The group, then, is not meant to represent Israel with its twelve tribes.

There are seven, which hints at the wholeness of the group, for seven means fullness.  Yes, the convocation of Jesus’ followers brings together people of every race, tongue and nation.

The disciples are together even in boredom as they miss Jesus.  And together, too, they try to cope by going fishing.  But they catch nothing.

Dawn comes, and they still have nothing to show for all their skill and efforts.  And this is when Jesus steps in.  Heeding him, though not recognizing him, they end up making a huge catch.

Then right away the beloved disciple says, “It is the Lord.”  He refers, of course, to the one who has asked, “Children, have you caught anything?”  And Jesus earlier called them in a similar way when he told them that he would be with them only a little while longer.  Do the words that are alike give a clue?

But, surely, one nice thing about being together is that one’s insight makes up for others who do not have it.  There is someone who recalls in behalf of those who forget (see M. L’Engle, The Irrational Season [The Seabury Press, 1977] 143).

To be the Church of Christ is to be together with him and with one another.

Such togetherness is not just a nice thing; it is everything.  Indeed, without Jesus, we can do nothing.  Unless he shows up, remains in us, and we in him, we catch nothing or our net breaks.

We do not succeed either without the others.  After all, do we really have anything that we have not received?

And everyone has something to share.  Does not Jesus still ask for some of our catch though he has fish and bread ready for us?

So, we need those who are as guileless as Nathanael.  We also find encouraging the words of Peter, “I will lay down my life for you.”  The forthrightness, moreover, of Thomas strengthens our resolve to be Jesus’ twins by going and dying with him.  And we cannot do without the humility of the unnamed followers.

Above all, Peter teaches us to cover our naked betrayal of Jesus.  Or to cover our naked ambition that is as shameless as that of Zebedee’s sons and is not acceptable (see SV.EN XI:313).  Yes, what covers sins is deep love for one other, the love that Jesus reveals.  The love that serves, feeds and cares, suffers shame and death, giving up the body and shedding blood as did the Lamb that was slain.

Lord Jesus, show us how to make a great catch of fish together.  And grant that, having fish and bread ready for others, we never allow others to die of hunger.

5 May 2019
Third Sunday of Easter (C)
Acts 5, 27-32. 40b-41; Rev 5, 11-14; Jn 21, 1-19