Friday 14 April 2023

Today is Easter Friday, the 14th of April.


Juliano Ravenallo sings ‘Resurrexi’: “Resurrected and I’m still with You, Hallelujah”

Resurrexi
Et adhuc tecum sum
Alleluia
Posuisti super me
Manum tuam
Alleluia
Mirabilis facta est
Scientia tua
Alleluia
Alleluia
Domine probasti me et cognovisti me
Tu cognovisti sessionem meam
Et resurrectionem meam
Gloria Patri et Filio
Et Spiritui Sancto
Sicut erat in principio
Et nunc et semper
Et in sæculorum
Amen
Resurrexi
Et adhuc tecum sum
Alleluia

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 21:1-14

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

There is a moment in today’s reading we hear that the disciple whom Jesus loved recognised the risen Lord. We might wonder what it was that helped him to recognise Jesus?

Perhaps it was the moment of the great catch of fish, or the recognition of Jesus’ voice, or the familiar sight of Jesus on the shore.

How does it feel when you recognise that the Lord is close to you, perhaps surprising you by his presence?

There seems to be a change in the energy levels of the tired disciples who had been out all night having caught nothing, but now there is a mood of exuberance and life.

Picture the disciples now by imagining their conversation… shouts of amazement at the large catch of fish…the groans as they haul the full nets… the sound of Peter jumping from the boat and splashing through the water… the cries of, “It’s the Lord!”

As you listen to the reading again, notice how familiar and homely this reunion with Jesus is, as the disciples join him on the shore for breakfast.

As you pray now, take a moment to picture this scene, as if you are there.

Perhaps you can hold on to this image and return to it whenever you are able today, in order to simply enjoy spending time with the disciples and the Lord on the beach.


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.