The death of Jesus on the Cross seemed like an untrammeled disaster to his followers who had left everything to join his company. But everything changed with the resurrection, which came to them as a great surprise. Even though Jesus spoke of it before his death as a coming fulfilment of the Scriptures, his followers never fully understood him. The reality of the resurrection helped them to begin to understand the Jewish Scriptures and why Jesus had to die on the Cross. All the readings of today make references to the fact that the resurrection event opened up the meaning and understanding of the Scriptures and God’s plan of salvation. The greatest thing is that it gave the disciples the conviction they never imagined.
The Appearance of the Risen Lord in Galilee
The story of the resurrection of Jesus in the Gospels begins with the discovery of the empty tomb. The early believers in Jesus considered the empty tomb as a very important piece of evidence in their preaching that Jesus rose from the dead. Although there emerged other versions that he was carried away or stolen from the tomb, the fact of the empty tomb was an empirical proof that Jesus did not remain in the tomb. Jesus also needed to appear to some of his followers to convince them that despite the reality of his death and the tomb, he was alive.
This is demonstrated in today’s Gospel from John 21:1-19, which narrates the appearance of the risen Jesus to a select group of his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias in Galilee. The disciples in the story were seven in number: Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, the sons of Zebedee and two other unnamed disciples. These disciples had followed Jesus to Jerusalem thinking he was to restore political autonomy to Israel, but what they saw was a shameful death on the Cross. According to the story in John 21, they had made their return to Galilee where they came from. Now, Simon Peter announced to his colleagues that he was returning to his fishing profession, and they all followed him.
This decision of returning to fishing could mean that Peter and his colleagues have abandoned the ministry of preaching for which Jesus called them. The shameful death of Jesus must have left them totally disappointed, as they must have seen the long years of following him as wasted years. So, they now decided to turn back to their old life. But unfortunately, things were no longer as before, as Peter and his colleagues spent the whole night catching nothing.
It was at this moment of another disappointment that the risen Jesus appeared to them in the morning and guided them to a great catch of fish and, even, from there gave them a free breakfast. At this point they had recognized him and understood that he was alive. This episode helped them, particularly Peter and the beloved disciple, to understand the significance of their ministry and make a new commitment to following Jesus.
Jesus as the Only Name Given for Human Salvation
The knowledge that their Master had risen and was alive reinvigorated Peter and his companions. Equipped with the Spirit, they were able to speak boldly to the Jewish Assembly on the power behind their activities, as we see in the first reading of today from Acts 4:1-12. Peter and John made it clear to the Jewish authorities that it was better to listen to God rather than to them, mere mortals, as they could not stop proclaiming the great things they had seen and heard.
The reality of the resurrection had convinced the disciples that Jesus was the only name given for human salvation, the only true Messiah amidst all messiah-pretenders. The encounter with the risen Lord convinced them that they had no other meaningful life apart from following and proclaiming Jesus. It convinced them that apart from the great Master, Jesus, they could do nothing, just as they spent the whole night catching nothing. They came to understand what the psalmist was talking about when he spoke of the stone rejected by the builders which has now become the keystone of the building (Ps 118:22). It continued to remain a marvel in their eyes.
Courage to Proclaim Christ
The power of the risen Christ is ever present in his Church and among us, his believers. As Christians, we should always be aware of this great presence and power working with us and working in us. The consciousness of this accompanying power should dispose us never to be afraid of proclaiming and defending our faith in the face of any opposition. Peter and John, in today’s Gospel, give us the great message that it is better to obey God rather than human beings. This is very instructive for us in our contemporary times when human conventions and ideologies tend to prevent us from standing for the truth and for Christ. Many prefer to follow the worldly trends even when they know that these totally contradict the express will of God.
May the Risen Lord give us the grace to recognize his power working in us and to stand boldly for him by standing for truth, justice, love, and peace in all circumstances!
