Encountering Jesus for the First Time Again
Apr 14: Friday in the Octave of Easter
Today’s Gospel is apparently a strange one for John. For people who study such things, it reads more like a passage from Luke than John. But it’s also been in every published version of John that we have. So, it’s possible that this came from St. John himself, but was written down by a different author than the one who transcribed most of John’s stories.1
This is part of why we can’t accept sola scriptura. It makes no sense to reject the Church’s tradition in favor of scripture when scripture itself is based on tradition. Someone had to sort out which books, and which versions of which books, belonged in the canon. That’s the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Reading 1
Acts 4:1-12
After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. They brought them into their presence and questioned them, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, "Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
Peter could have weaseled his way out of this situation, like he did on the night of our Lord’s Passion. Instead, he spells it out quite clearly and unambiguously. He publicly admits to “crimes,” in arguably worsening severity—
He did, indeed, cure the cripple.
He didn’t do it himself, but in the name of Jesus (who they condemned).
Jesus has been raised from the dead.
There is no salvation through anyone else except Jesus.
That last one is a Roman crime, as well. They frequently hailed the emperor as a savior and god.
Peter, in other words, rejects every authority other than Jesus. What are they going to do about it? You’ll find out tomorrow…
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Obviously, this is the psalm Peter referred to in his impassioned defense from the first reading. God knows better than we do which stone is the correct one to build from. The Israelites were expecting a militant Messiah, and they got a peacemaker, instead. It’s really not surprising so many of them missed it.
Side note: this is also where the word “hosanna” comes from; it means “grant salvation” in ancient Hebrew, which is what the people were singing on Palm Sunday. So, it’s not just the builders (the high priests) who rejected the cornerstone; all the people (including us) did.
Alleluia
Ps 118:24
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Like Peter, give credit to God for the good day.
Gospel
Jn 21:1-14
Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast."
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
It’s always worth noting that the purpose of miracles to help people believe in Christ. They’re a sign of divinity.
This scene is reminiscent of the original calling of the first disciples, in Mark and Luke.2 Some people might claim these scenes are a little too similar. They claim this just a legend that was used for one plot purpose in Mark and Luke, but a totally different purpose in John. I mean, did Jesus really miraculously help his disciples collect more fish than they could count… twice?
Um, yeah.
They were fishermen. Jesus caught up with them while they were at work. To say these must be the same story would be like saying every story you’ve ever told about your jobsite must’ve happened on the same day.
Besides, Jesus himself knows how he called Simon Peter. He was there.
So, just like all the other times Jesus appeared post-resurrection, his friends don’t recognize him at first. What better way to get someone to recognize you than to remind them of the first time you met?
Do you remember how you first meet Jesus?
It’s unlikely that St. John himself wrote the Gospel ascribed to him, not least because he was probably illiterate.
Mk 1:16-20 and Lk 5:1-11