Gospel Reflections for May 5 2019
Notice the good news!
This Gospel account occurs only a short while after the passion and death of Jesus in Jerusalem. People were probably still in sorrow about those events. I am sure they thought the Romans had put an end to Jesus once and for all.
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 to His disciples every day. Today’s Gospel tells the story of Our Lord directing fishermen to lower the nets in a different way, which results in a tremendous catch!
Their original despair they felt at the crucifixion of Jesus changed instantly to hope at his resurrection, and so they found amazing courage to bring the person of Jesus to everyone they would meet.
You should also know that they were amazingly successful. Bible Scholars today focus on this time a lot right now, and have learned much about how these former fishermen were able to convert so many Romans, who just before had tried to end the Christian movement for good!
This is an important lesson for today. While the news broadcasts so many bad events around the world, it often misses all that is going amazingly well. The very fact that people react in horror at bad events around the world is actually the legacy of 2000 years of Christianity. In the ancient world, no one cared for victims. It was a culture built entirely on power and dominance.
But it was all those hundreds of 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!
This last lent, a total of 22 parishes located in Ventura County, Whittier, and Bellflower and even in San Francisco hosted the University Series of Adult Catholic Education seminars, and with great attendance, numbering in the many thousands of people attending.
Here at St. Bruno, we are in the midst of celebrating the First Communions of well over a hundred young people, and will soon celebrate the Confirmation of well over a hundred teenagers.
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
Your statement about the amazing things that are going well, in spite of all that is hateful & wrong , really opened my eyes.
You’re right, the mere fact that people react in horror at the bad things is a good thing.
Thank you for this insight. Thank you also for the University Series. I took some friends who have never been before, and they said that from now on the Series will be a part of their Lenten practice.
Blessings, Sherrie
Thank you for your comments, but most of all, for bringing people to the University Series!
Dear Father Dave,
To have had the honor of being in the presence of the resurrected body of Christ must have been an overwhelming joy for the apostles and all of Christ’s followers. So often I’ve thought that I would have loved to have been there, too. However, our experiences in this day and age, while different, are in a real sense … the same. Jesus promised to be with us, always. I truly believe He is.
Thank you for your dedication to this weekly synopsis. As a result, I have a much better memory of our weekly gospels, their revelations, and connections.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A.
You are very welcome!
Truly, we get a lot more bad news than Good News! I think that is why it is important to have small sharing groups. The news media always concentrates on the the spectacular happenings, which are mostly bad news. When people get together in a friendly group, happy stories tend to come forth.
Yes, the media never presents the world where people actually live in an accurate way. Well said!
Fr Dave
Yes there has been a lot of bad news. . But with your University Series is making such a difference in so many peoples lives! Hope to make it next year!
Much blessings & love
Kathleen M.
Stay tuned for the University Series next year!
The resurrection of Jesus was a new beginning when Jesus assured His disciples
and us,that He cares as much about us now as He did when He was in the flesh.
Even though we can’t see Him, He is in the faces of those who care to bring
His love to others.
Well said!
Yes, indtead of meditating on the bad news, the good news is that Jesus is Lord and in charge of our wakings and sleepings. We need to answer that question… “Do you love Me”? If the answer is yes then we need to follow the calling he has placed on our lives..
Yes, Jesus meant for His questions to Peter to be a motivating force to inspire Peter’s ministry. Apparently, it worked!
The good news brought about by the resurrection of Jesus and the University Series are definitely two happy items to greatly celebrate, Thanks Fr. Dave.
Thank you for your kind words. It is no accident that we have the University Series in the days leading up to Easter!