Easter Friday
Weekday liturgy (Year 2) — White
1st Reading
Acts 4:1-12
Lectio (Reading)
After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
"By what power or by what name have you done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-24, 25-27a
Lectio (Reading)
R.(22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
2nd Reading
Gospel Reading
John 21:1-14
Lectio (Reading)
Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
Meditatio (Reflecting)
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Oratio (Responding)
This is the third time Jesus has appeared to His disciples since His ressurrection. The first two were in the upper room, where the door was locked, because of their fear. Now in this story, they have left the locked room. They still feel lost, and alone, and they do not know what to do, and so they have set out to do the one thing that they know how to do. Peter leads the way, saying one of my favorite lines in the bible “I am going fishing.” But sadly they were unsuccessfull… Why?
They were mourning the loss of Jesus, and decided to go back to what they know, but they did it without Jesus, and without bringing Him into their work, and as a result they were unsuccessful. Then, Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples on the shore, and the moment He was with them, albeit from a distance, they caught a multitude of fish. 153 fish, a number that most church fathers agree represented all of the known species of fish at the time. And if they are to be “fishers of men” then this “catch” is very symobolic of the mission that Jesus is giving them as apostles and evangelists of His new religion.
I think the analogy is clear. We need bring Jesus into every aspect of our lives. Our work, our friendships, and our marriages, and when we do we will be successful. But more than successful, we will attract more than we set out to do. We will find abundance, and we will bring Gods message to even those we did not know were listening, those from all over the world. This is the call of our lives. To be one with His kingdom, and to not stand apart from it. It sometimes seems easier to try to do it all on your own, but it is not, and Jesus wants to help us carry the load, we only need ask for His help. Ask Him to join you in all that you do today, and everyday.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.
Resolutio (Resolving)
Today let me remember to invite Jesus into every aspect of my life, and to ask Him to help me carry the load, and together we can more fully magnify His kingdom here on earth. Amen.