A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING OF THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 22)
Third Sunday of Easter, Year C – April 25, 2004
“It is the Lord!”
BIBLE READINGS
Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41 // Rev 5:11-14 // Jn 21:1-14
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
It was Easter week in Rome. Many of the Sisters in our religious community were out of town. There were very few of us for breakfast. When I saw what was served at table, I could not suppress my smile. Bread and fish! The Gospel proclaimed at Mass that morning was about the Risen Lord serving his disciples a breakfast of bread and fish beside the lake. It was a memorable breakfast of fish cooked on a charcoal fire and bread served by the greatest servant of love – Jesus, the glorified Servant of Yahweh. The Risen Master thoughtfully prepared them for his tired disciples who had spent the whole night fishing. As I broke the sweet smelling bread, round and flat, and piping hot from the oven, and as I ate it with some olive-soaked sardines flavored with zesty red peppers, I was greatly delighted. Aglow with joy, I could vividly imagine the presence of the Risen Master, the Lord of the eucharistic banquet in our midst. It was an Easter breakfast I would never forget. It had brought me close to the original event. Likewise, the Easter apparition of Jesus at Lake Tiberias in Galilee with his kind invitation, “Come, have breakfast!” was something the disciples would keep in their hearts. Indeed, the Easter meal hosted by the Risen Lord on the lakeshore had been recorded for believers through the ages.
The breakfast at Tiberias, narrated in today’s Gospel account, is introduced by the episode of the miraculous catch of fish. The Gospel writer tells us that Simon Peter, accompanied by Thomas, Nathanael, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples, went fishing at Lake Tiberias. They toiled the whole night, but caught nothing. When it was dawn, Jesus appeared to them on the shore and directed their fishing. Following his command, the disciples caught an enormous amount of fish. According to the biblical scholar, Bruce Vawter: “Probably the superabundant drought of fish is to be regarded as a sign, recalling the great quantity of wine at Cana, the multiplication of the loaves, the living water, the eternal life given by the Good Shepherd, and the plenitude of the Spirit.” Indeed, the superabundant catch was a sign of the Risen Lord’s presence and power. The sign induced the Beloved Disciple to cry out, “It is the Lord!” The Beloved Disciple who saw the sign of the empty tomb on Easter morn (Jn 20:8) is the same disciple who proclaimed his faith-recognition at dawn by the waters of Tiberias. Aelred Rosser observes: “It is the Beloved Disciple who recognizes the Lord first. Clearly, love has its own kind of vision, more acute than mere human understanding.”
According to the Gospel writer, the net that was dragged by Peter and the other disciples to shore was “full of one hundred fifty-three large fish”. Although we do not know the precise symbolic meaning of this number, it probably refers to the future missionary work of the apostles and its universal character. St. Jerome’s interpretation is attractive, namely that ancient zoologists calculated the species of fish at precisely 153. The meaning, then, would refer to all kinds of men and women whom the disciples will bring into the Church through their apostolic preaching. In spite of the heavy load of fish, the net was not torn, indicating the integral character of the Christian community. The net that encompasses the great quantity of fish points to the great variety and multitude of believers that will be brought into the faith, forming the one, catholic and universal Church of Christ. In their apostolic task as “fishers” of men and women, the disciples of the Risen Lord need to rely on him for the efficacy of their mission. They can catch nothing without the assistance of the Lord. To act without Jesus is futile. Without his presence, casting the net into the sea of life is in vain.
The breakfast that Jesus prepares and serves to his disciples has a eucharistic overtone. The Gospel writer narrates: “Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish” (Jn 21:13). The meal at the lakeshore evokes the multiplication of the loaves and fish (Jn 6:9-15) that Jesus accomplished at Lake Tiberias at the beginning of his messianic ministry. Jesus fed the hungry crowd at the lakeshore with bread and fish, distributing as much as needed, and with twelve baskets left over of the bread fragments. According to the authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 3: “This sign was an announcement of the Eucharist … The Christian of today who knows the Gospels cannot help but make these connections while reflecting on such a suggestive passage, especially when it is read during the Eucharistic celebration. We know that it is the Lord who has set the table and invites us: Happy are those who are called to his supper. He gives himself to be the food of those he gathers.” Indeed, in the Eucharist, the Risen Lord continues to be present to us in the bread of the Word that we share and in the sacramental form of bread and wine. The glorified Jesus nourishes us with the bread of his living Word and with his own body and blood. The Easter event of the Risen Lord feeding his flock continues to be actualized in the “here and now” of the Church through the Eucharist, the sacrament of Christ’s Passover.
The last part of today’s Gospel reading is about the special pastoral ministry that Peter received from the Lord (Jn 21:15-19). The “charcoal fire with fish on it” mentioned in Jn 21:9 prepares us for this scene. Jesus used the “charcoal fire” in his servant role as chef and as the giver of bread and fish. This “charcoal fire” now serves as a witness for Peter’s profession of love, recalling the previous “charcoal fire” at the hour of Jesus’ passion (Jn 18:18), next to which Peter had denied the Lord. The biblical scholar, Neal Flanagan explains: “This encounter of Peter with his Risen Lord is filled with beautiful materials. Jesus offers Peter a public opportunity to profess repentance through love, surely a striking example of what it is that reestablishes our relationship with the Lord after sin. Peter’s threefold denial is balanced by this threefold profession of love … With this, he and his Lord are “at-oned”. The function of Yahweh-shepherd in Ezekiel 34 passes to Jesus-shepherd in John 10, and to Peter-shepherd in John 21. It is important to note how Peter’s role as shepherd is tied to love and to a willingness to lay down his life. Note, too, how Peter’s laying down his life glorified God, as did that of Jesus.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. In our missionary task as fishers of men and women, do we feel that, like the disciples, we have toiled all night long, but in vain? What is our response when the Risen Lord appears to us in this wearying predicament and commands us: “Cast the net over the right side of the boat” (Jn 21:6)?
B. Are we ready to recognize the presence of the Easter event in our lives and acknowledge the author of this marvel, proclaiming with faith: “It is the Lord!” (Jn 21:7)?
C. What is our response to Jesus’ claim to our love and service: “Do you love me? … Feed my sheep … Follow me …”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: We praise and bless you, O Risen Master, for allowing us to witness the Easter miracle of the superabundant catch of fish. This marvelous sign of your love warms our hearts and invites us to put our trust in you. In our missionary activity as fishers of men and women, let us not be discouraged by this seemingly endless and fruitless toil. Help us to believe that you are there with us, beside the sea, ready to greet us at the dawn of day with your life-giving and all-powerful Word. May we be serene and peaceful for it is you who direct the apostolic work of casting the nets into the sea of life.
Assembly: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
Leader: We praise and bless you, O Risen Master, for having graciously prepared and hosted the Easter meal at the lakeshore of Tiberias. You are truly the gracious Host and Lord of the eucharistic banquet. You reveal yourself to us continually in the Eucharist as the Risen Lord, the font of all life and blessings. In your immense goodness, you nourish us daily with the bread of the living Word and the sacramental bread and wine of your own body and blood.
Assembly: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
Leader: We praise and bless you, O Risen Master, for allowing us to share in your pastoral ministry as Servant-Shepherd of Yahweh’s flock. Together with Simon Peter, the fisherman-turned-shepherd, we wish to atone for our cowardice and betrayal. Let the “charcoal fire” that witnessed our past sins be the “charcoal fire” that testifies to the commitment of love and service that we avow today. Give us the grace to really love you by following you all the way – toward the paschal destiny of laying down our lives for your sheep. Jesus Master-Shepherd, together with Simon Peter, we say to you …
Assembly: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” (Jn 21:17)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: Read the Gospel episode slowly, serenely and meditatively. Using your imagination, try to participate in the various episodes of the Easter event narrated by Jn 21:1-19, e.g. the miraculous catch, the breakfast at the lakeshore, Peter’s profession of love beside the “charcoal fire”, etc.
B. ACTION PLAN: Pray in a special way for the Church’s missionary activity of being fishers of men and women. Pray also for all fishermen.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
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