Jesus was well aware that immediately
after his crucifixion and death, His
followers would be filled with fear and uncertainty about the future. At that
stage they did not understand why events had unfolded in the manner that they
did, and it was only later through the power of the Holy Ghost , that their eyes
and minds were opened.
To reinforce and strengthen the
faith of His disciples, and to remove
their doubts concerning His resurrection from the dead, Our Lord Jesus
Christ appeared to his followers and
disciples on at least ten occasions after His resurrection:-
Second, by the women returning from the
sepulchre; Matthew 28 v 9-10. Mark 16 v 12
Third, by Peter; Luke 24 v 12, v 35
Fourth, by the two going to Emmaus; Luke 24 v 18-32
Fifth, in Jerusalem, when Thomas was not present; John 20 v 19-23
Sixth, when Thomas saw Him; John 20 v 26-29
Seventh, on the sea of Tiberias; John 21 v 1-14
Eighth, by all the eleven on a mountain of
Galilee, mentioned by Matthew; Matthew 28
v 17-19
Ninth, when for the last time He sat at meal with the disciples; M ark 16 v 14-18.
Luke 24 v 36-49
Tenth, when He was seen no longer upon earth,
but ascending into heaven in a cloud. Luke
24 v. 50-53
Additionally, St John, in his epilogue,
writes of ‘ many other signs Jesus
worked in the sight of His disciples,
which are not written down’. John 20 v 30
Today at Mass, the Gospel was
taken from St John Ch. 21 verses 1-14. I find this particular Gospel especially positive and affirmative in its message of
Christ’s victory over death, depicted by
His resurrection from the dead, and His subsequent appearance to some of his
closest apostles and disciples. The miracle of the catch of fish and the
appearance of Christ in person sharing a meal with His apostles, a meal
prepared by Christ Himself, I find truly symbolic when related to receiving
Holy Communion at Mass. Of course Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, rather than just a meal
as would have been the case in the Gospel incident, nevertheless for me, the
symbolism is still there.
'Miraculous draught of fish' (1444) - Konrad Witz
Easter Wednesday. Gospel:
John xxi. v 1-14.
‘At that time, Jesus showed Himself again to His
disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And He showed Himself after this manner: There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas
who is called Didymus, and Nathaniel, who was of Cana in Galilee, and the sons
of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples.
Simon Peter saith to them: I go
afishing. They say to him: we also come with thee. And they went forth, and entered into the
ship: and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet His disciples knew not that it was
Jesus. Jesus therefore said to
them: Children, have you nothing to
eat? They answered Him: No. He
saith to them: Cast the net on the right
side of the ship, and you shall find.
They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it, for the
multitude of fishes. That disciple
therefore whom Jesus loved, saith to Peter:
It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when
he heard it was the Lord, girt his coat about him (for he was naked) and cast
himself into the sea. But the other
disciples came in the ship, (for they were not far from the land, but as it
were two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they came to land, they saw
hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have
caught. Simon Peter went up (into the
ship), and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and
fifty-three. And although there were so
many, the net was not broken. Jesus
saith to them: Come, and eat. And none of them who were at meat durst ask
Him: Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh, and taketh bread, and
giveth them, and fish in like manner.
This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to His disciples,
after He was risen from the dead.'
