Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.

As we continue our celebration of Easter, we see Jesus once again sharing a meal with his disciples. Keep in mind that these were the people who had betrayed and abandoned him when he was led to his death. They were back in Galilee, back to the fishing business they knew well. Tellingly, they spent the night casting and recasting their nets in vain. They caught nothing.

Then Jesus came. He changed the lives of his disciples, just as he hopes to change ours. What is the message? Not simply that, but he also showed that they couldn’t even fish successfully without his help. (The same is true for our efforts today.) The more profound message, I think, is that while we were (are?) still sinners, Jesus showers his mercy upon us. We don’t earn God’s love and mercy; it is a free gift.

Jesus gives us second chances — and third and fourth as well. He never gives up on us. He still has plans for us in his kingdom. He continually calls us back into communion with himself as he did with his first followers. His first instinct is not to punish us but to bring us back to himself, into a close personal union with him. We can experience that loving call at every Eucharist. There, Jesus not only shares himself with us in the eucharistic bread, where he calls us to renew our faithfulness, but deepens our trust in his faithfulness and love. Jesus never gives up on us.

Do I believe that Jesus still loves me despite my unfaithfulness?

Let Us Pray:

O Jesus, you gave your life that we might live. And you strengthen us at each Mass by sharing your love and forgiveness with us. Let me never doubt your mercy.