Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: John 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 that night they caught nothing.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.

Reflections

“It’s the Lord!”Jesus appears to the disciples for the third time according to John. He makes himself visible by the Lake of Tiberias or Sea of Galilee. The apostles have gone back to fishing, but at that night, they did not catch anything. As they return ashore, Jesus shouts out to them if they have enough catch and therefore have something to eat. When they answer “nothing,”Jesus commands them to try again, throwing the net at the right side of the boat. Without questioning who he is, they obey. This must be the result of their previous utter disappointment in Jerusalem. Their minds are submissive to anyone including this unrecognized stranger and potential consumer of fish.The miraculous catch makes them recognize Jesus. Their effort to pull the net full of fish adds to their certainty that it is the Lord. Other fisher-folks at the vicinity are called to help. They have unmistakably identified him unlike when Jesus appeared in Jerusalem.Now there is something to eat. At meal time, Jesus again distributes bread and this time fish to his disciples. When the bread is distributed to us in the Eucharist, we must recognize it is the Lord.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 24:35-48
Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood in their midst. (He said to them, “Peace to you.”) In their panic and fright they thought they were seeing a ghost, but he said to them, “Why are you upset, and how does such an idea cross your minds? Look at my hands and feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me, and see for yourselves, for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!” (As he said this, he showed his hands and feet.)Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, as they were astonished; so he said to them, “Have you anything to eat?” And they gave him a piece of

broiled fish. He took it, and ate it before them.Then Jesus said to them, “Remember the words I spoke to you when I was still with you: Everything written about me in the law of Moses, in the prophets and in the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.And he said, “So it was written: the Messiah had to suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

Reflections

“Touch me, and see for yourselves.”Jesus appears to the apostles and disciples in Jerusalem as the two disciples going to Emmaus recount their experience with the Risen Lord along the way.The topic is how Jesus is made known to them. In their minds before, he is finished. He is dead. Yet he continues appearing to them. How can they change their mental set so quickly, including their emotional disposition? They have not finished mourning yet and here he comes appearing just like that like a ghost.In his appearance this time, the group mistakes him for a ghost. Though they are excited because of the surprise, they cannot process in their minds what is going on.Jesus presents his resurrected body. He asks them to touch him. In front of them is the real Jesus. He asks for food and he eats. So what is still the problem?Jesus explains the scriptures to open their minds. Scriptures are still needed to understand all that has happened to Jesus. Once they understand and believe, they are bound to proclaim repentance and forgiveness and to give witness to him all over the known world. They will start in Jerusalem while they are still euphoric.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35*
Two followers of Jesus were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and arguing about what had happened, Jesus came up and walked with them, but their eyes were not able to recognize him.He asked, “What is it you are talking about?” The two stood still, looking sad. Then the one named Cleophas answered, “Why, it seems you are the only traveler to Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happened there these past few days.” And he asked, “What is it?” They replied, “It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They

handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel.It is now the third day since all this took place. It is also true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find his body; and they came and told us that they had had a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. (…) He said to them, “How dull you are, how slow of understanding! Is the message of the prophets too difficult for you to understand? Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this, and then enter his glory?” (…)As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, “Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave each a piece. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight. And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?” They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words: “Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!” Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.

Reflections

“Were not our hearts burning within us.”The story of the two disciples going to Emmaus tells us that there are other followers of Jesus aside from the apostles and some women coming from Galilee. The two disciples are not simply bystanders or observers, objectively detached from what happened to Jesus. They discuss, not just talk about it, to make sense out of their failed expectations and hopes.It also tells us of the Risen Lord walking with them. Unrecognized as such, Jesus facilitates their sharing and he listens to their story which is accurate. After they talk, Jesus talks. He shakes them. “How dull you are!” They know everything, but they do not understand the meaning. So Jesus interprets (hermeneuein) for them the scriptures that speaks of his resurrection. He concludes his explanation with the breaking of the bread. Finally, they recognize him. Then he disappears. It is true that Jesus is risen.The two disciples are lucky to have Jesus with them. In their confusion, they unexpectedly get the high quality interpreter. They share what they have felt along the way. “Were not our hearts burning…” They too become the first hand eyewitnesses and ear witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. We can also be witnesses.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: John 20:11-18
Mary stood weeping outside the tomb; and as she wept, she bent down to look inside. She saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet. They said, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and answered him, “Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and take him away.”Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned, and said to him, “Rabboni!”— which means

Master. Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God.”So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me.”

Reflections

“I have seen the Lord.”Mary of Magdala is presented weeping, unlike the women of yesterday’s reading who were rejoicing. She is still crying over the death of Jesus. She stays behind. She does not join the disciples in going back home. The two angels ask her why she is weeping. At this point she does not believe yet in the resurrection. In her sorrow, she is fixated with the remains’ relocation. Jesus also appears to her, but she does not recognize him. She asks the same question, “Where is the body of Jesus?”When Jesus calls her name, Mary recognizes Jesus and shows her affection. She keeps touching until Jesus stops her. The imperative verb used in Greek is in the present tense, not aorist, meaning, “Stop touching me.” If in aorist, it would mean, “Don’t begin to touch me.”Instead, Jesus orders her to report to the brothers that he is ascending into heaven. He is going back home to his Father in heaven. At this point we can see joy in the face of Mary. She is happy to testify to the disciples saying, “I have seen the Lord.” She now declares her belief in Jesus’ resurrection. We can do the same.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019