Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

April 10, 2026

Friday in the Octave of Easter

When John returned from Mount Calvary to report the gruesome death of Jesus on the cross, Peter suffered in anguish from his betrayal. The other disciples who remained with him in the upper room waited to see what he would do.

Jesus entrusted Peter with leadership authority. They could not stay behind the locked doors. Peter simply said, “I’m going fishing.” It was night. The Cenacle in Jerusalem is a good distance from the Sea of Galilee. I suspect they walked in silence, each with their own sorrow.

Peter may have thought of the first time he was with Jesus, who got into his boat and spoke to the large crowd on the shore. Jesus then directed him to lower the nets, and they caught so many fish that the boats were nearly sinking (Luke 5:1-11).

Now, after Jesus’ death, they caught nothing. A man from the shore called out to ask them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat? Casting their nets at his command, they were overwhelmed with the catch, and impulsive Peter, aware it was Jesus, jumped into the water and dragged the fish to shore.

This was the third time Jesus appeared, inviting them to share the breakfast he had prepared. Saint Peter Julian speaks of the apostles’ weak faith and their faltering in virtue. He says, “From time to time, we need to return to the fire of the Cenacle to ask for a greater grace from the Holy Spirit.”

Let Us Pray:

Fill with joy, we pray, all those you have saved by your loving kindness that, redeemed by the Passion of your Son, they may rejoice in the Resurrection. Amen.