Gospel for May 4 2025 – John 21:1-19
Gospel Reflections for May 4 2025
Jesus the Carpenter …knows fishing!
This is a great Gospel for your family …and also the Cardinals in Rome.
Jesus comes across His disciples as they are busy about fishing again. Their meeting produces wonderful results.
The disciples were not yet sure that Jesus had resurrected although they heard about it. All they know is that Jesus died on the cross, and that the mission of Jesus died with Him. All of their hopes and dreams died as well. They simply did what made the most sense. They went back to their old job of fishing.
After a long night of fishing and catching nothing they return to the shore, perhaps with an even deeper sense of despair …that even fishing is not working out!
Just then a stranger on the shore calls out to them to cast their nets in a different direction. Fortunately they do, and because their catch of fish is so great they can barely haul it in. A very successful catch!
At this point they recognize the stranger on the shore is Jesus. Not only is their fishing business back in action, but the mission of Jesus is as well.
Instead of asking Jesus to stay with them and make their fishing business successful, they leave it behind to follow Him! They knew that what Jesus offered was so much more than anything their old job of fishing could provide. Good choice!
This weekend and next we will celebrate the First Holy Communion of over 170 young people receiving the Eucharist for the first time. They are just beginning their lifelong journey of meeting Our Lord in ever changing ways throughout their life. We pray they will also discover the miraculous presence of Our Lord in their life just as the disciples did in today’s Gospel.
Following Our Lord is the answer. Jesus knew where the best fish were and so His disciples followed His direction. They knew He had their best interests at heart. No one knows the authentic path to happiness more than Our Lord, so decide today to follow Him.
I will trust that Jesus the Carpenter even knows fishing even better than fishermen, and just where to place you to achieve the right catch of fish …and lasting happiness in your life.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
I pray that the Cardinals will listen to the Holy Spirit, granting them wisdom,
courage and unity in the church, as they as they are preparing to elect
our new Pope.
Dear Father Dave,
I just wrote a response, hit something and lost what I was writing!
In any event, Christ’s visits to the apostles cemented His purpose in living and dying. His divinity is clear as is His message to announce His message of love to the world.
God bless you as you continue to spread the word of God.
Kathleen
Thank you!