” 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.

Reflect

Some of the apostles spend the night fishing, making a catch only as dawn breaks. Having
assured their catch, Jesus, waiting on the shore, offers them breakfast. What could be more
ordinary than a hard night’s work and a simple meal? Yet God is present in these ordinary
moments.

Too often we struggle to recognize God’s presence in our lives because we are looking for
grand miracles that overwhelm the senses. When the Red Sea doesn’t part and the water
doesn’t become wine, we fear that God has abandoned us.

But God is always with us, often in the most ordinary aspects of our lives, if only we make
the effort to notice. We can see God in the love of parent and child, the encouragement of
a teacher, the taste of good food shared with dear friends, the gentle touch of a beloved’s
hand. Keeping our eyes and hearts open, we will see God.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023