DAILY- HOMILY

April 25, 2014
Friday within the Octave of Easter
[St. Mark, evangelist]

Acts 4: 1-12 / Ps 118: 1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a / Jn 21: 1-14

Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming that resurrection from the dead had been proved in the case of Jesus. Since it was already evening, they arrested them and put them in custody until the following day. But despite this, many of those who heard the Message believed and their number increased to about five thousand. The next day, the Jewish leaders, elders and teachers of the Law assembled in Jerusalem. Annas, the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly class were there. They brought Peter and John before them and began to question them, "How did you do this? Whose name did you use?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke up, "Leaders of the people! Elders! It is a fact that we are being examined today for a good deed done to a cripple. How was he healed? You and all the people of Israel must know that this man stands before you cured through the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean. You had him crucified, but God raised him from the dead. Jesus is the stone rejected by you the builders which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other Name given to humankind all over the world by which we may be saved."

Gospel: Jn 21: 1-14
After this Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Lake of Tiberias. He appeared to them in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas who was called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were together; and Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They replied, "We will come with you" and they went out and got into the boat. But they caught nothing that night. When day had already broken, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus called them, "Children, 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 some." 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 ask him, "Who are you?" for they knew it was the Lord. Jesus then 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:
     After receiving the Holy Spirit, the disciples went back to their usual lives. When Peter initiated that he was going out to "fish," the others "followed." Unfortunately, they did not catch anything. Probably they were thinking about Christ and about what just happened when Christ "commissioned" them to continue his work. Probably they were thinking what's next? Can they do what has been asked of them without Christ being physically with them? Will people believe them? Has any of them thought of just abandoning the "co-mission" offered to them and just go on with their lives?
     When Christ instructed them where to throw their net on the right side of the boat, they were able to drag a netful of fish. This was when they knew "It is the Lord" (Jn 21:7).
     Surely it makes a big difference when we have faith. The apostles were tasked to be "fishers of men" but with doubt and uncertainty in their hearts, how could they catch men and bring them to Christ? In anything we do, as long as we do not believe in what we are capable of doing, we will not be able to get things done. Let us also remember that though we do not see Christ, we must believe that he is always accompanying us in every step of our journey.

Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing
     * Virginia Hernandez, Ditas dela Paz, Fleur Torres, Tony Torres
... for world peace and reconciliation
... for personal intentions - Camille Torres
... for the repose of the soul - Milagros Maliwat Pasion

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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