Gospel for May 1 2022 – John 21:1-19:1
Gospel Reflections for May 1 2022
Notice good news!
This Gospel occurs just a short time after the passion and death of Jesus. People were still in shock about those horrible events. They felt the Romans had finally put an end to Jesus.
Much to their surprise, Jesus resurrected from the dead! No one in all of human history has ever done this! Since Easter, He had been appearing daily to His disciples. Today’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus directing fishermen to lower their nets in a different way, which results in a tremendous catch!
Their original despair they felt at His crucifixion changed instantly to hope at His resurrection, and so they found amazing courage to bring the person of Jesus to everyone they met. These former fishermen would soon bring in a great “catch” of converts.
They were amazingly successful. The church grew quickly with many conversions of Jews and even Romans. Bible Scholars today focus on this time a lot right now, and have learned much about how former fishermen were able to convert so many Romans, who just before had tried to end the Christian faith for good!
The Gospel of Luke especially shows how this happened. (This is also the subject of my latest book, Luke 10 Leadership).
This is an important lesson for today. While the media broadcasts many bad events around the world, it often misses all that is going so amazingly well.
In the ancient world, no one cared for victims. It was a culture built entirely on power and dominance. The fact that people react in horror today at tragic events in the world, like Ukrainians suffering under a cruel Russian invasion, and then rush to come to their aid, is actually the legacy of 2000 years of Christianity.
It was many years of gazing at Jesus on the cross that changed the world to finally feel compassion for victims and come to their aid. That is good news we should recognize!
Here at St. Bruno, and I am sure at parishes everywhere, we soon will be celebrating the First Communions of well over a hundred children, and will soon celebrate the Confirmation of well over a hundred teenagers. The good news of Jesus continues!
We certainly acknowledge the sinfulness in our world and all the bad events that happen, but this Easter Season also affirms we should see what is also going well …and celebrate them.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Fr. Dave,
Thanks for putting a clear and joyful focus on the world that Jesus made possible!
Larry
You are welcome!
Beautiful insight Father Dave!!! Our world is overflowing with so many beautiful people living our precious faith, helping others, helping the people of Ukraine, sharing our Jesus’ love with each other!!! Our Jesus will overwhelm our world in love!! Loveeee it!!! Loved seeing you at your beautiful University!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Diclk
Thank you!
I was watching a Grandson graduate from Pepperdine on live screen when the doorbell rang and I went to answer the door. There stood a tall handsome Young man holding pamphlets on the Jewish Faith. He wanted to know if anyone in my home was interested in what He was selling. I told him No but wanted him to come in so I could show my Wife a Jewish Evangelist.
I told him my Savior was Jewish Carpenter and I would love to tell him all about him. He declined and left smiling. Twas a wonderful experience and fun meeting. I really like to fish and this Scripture reading is a favorite of mine.
Yes, you went fishing in deeper waters! Maybe your visitor will continue to ponder and think about his meeting with you for some time.
Dear Father Dave,
What an exquisite way to describe the everlasting rippling effects of Christ’s passion and resurrection.
God bless!
Kathleen
Thank you!