When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, “Friends,
have you anything to eat?” They answered, “Nothing.” Then he said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat and you will find something.”
When they had lowered the net, they were not able to pull it in because of the great number of fish.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” At these words, “It’s the Lord!” Simon Peter put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work,
and jumped into the water. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; they were not far from land, about a hundred meters.
When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.”
So Simon Peter climbed into the boat and pulled the net to shore. It was full of big fish—one hundred and fifty-three—but, in spite of this,
the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” And not one of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” for they knew it was the Lord.
Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and he did the same with the fish.
This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after rising from the dead.
REFLECTION:
There was one thing about Jesus’ relationship with his disciples that is truly fascinating, namely, his patience with them.
Not once did he coerce them to believe, not once did he tell them to “hurry up” and work on ridding themselves of their doubts, their worries,
their hesitations, and their fears. He chided them for their lack of faith from time to time. But he was so infinitely patient with them,
leading them gently from darkness to clarity, and from clarity to deeper understanding. It is the same patience that God shows to each one of us.
He will never force us to do something we do not like, nor will he insist that we rid ourselves of our weaknesses as soon as possible.
Instead, he waits patiently, allowing us to grow and mature at our own pace, like a loving Father, inviting his children towards goodness,
yet allowing them to approach it without haste.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020