THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER C
THE TIME OF THE LORD
JN 21: 1-14
MESSAGE
Today, the Gospel recounts the Lord Jesus’ appearance to his disciples who went fishing at night without success. Returning to shore at dawn, they saw the Lord but did not immediately recognize him, until the miracle of the abundant catch of fish happened. Then the Lord invited them: Come, have breakfast.
What a contrast to the night before the Passion of the Lord. It was evening then, when the Lord asked his disciples to prepare a meal, and invited them to take supper with him. We now call that the Last Supper, the ultimate meal Jesus shared before he died on the cross. The timing of the meal was adapted to the mood of the occasion, when sadness and fear, when betrayal and captivity would follow. The supper took place at night, a symbol of the surreptitiousness of sin.
But the Resurrection is now revealed in the morning, and the meal is a light and hearty breakfast. The sun is on the horizon and the Lord’s face is slowly being revealed to his friends. Joy and hope, life and positivity mark the meal. The morning breakfast is the symbol of the victory of faith and hope in God whose Risen Son was now in their midst.
The Risen Lord transcends the demarcation of night and day. He is the Lord of time and time begins to have meaning in his company and presence. That is why, whether we celebrate his memory in the Eucharist in the evening, morning, or midday, we know that we partake of the mystery of his death and Resurrection, of the godforsakenness of the Cross and of the presence of the Risen One in the midst of the Cross.
REFLECT
This Easter season, pause at various times of the day to recall that Jesus is truly present, not only in sacred places, but in your heart. He is present not only in solemn occasions of worship but at every moment of your life. Night and day, praise the Lord. Night and day, serve the Lord in others!
