INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this Friday in Easter Week is,
“Breakfast With Jesus.”
Today’s Gospel is one more interesting story in the Gospel
of John. There are many more. Here are a
few:
Wedding Feast at Cana - 6 large
water jars;
Woman caught in Adultery and
the stones in hand and Jesus writing in the earth;
Woman at the well;
Nicodemus at night;
Blind man whose parents
wouldn’t vouch for him;
the last supper and the washing
of feet;
and here breakfast with Jesus.
FOOD MOMENTS
Here are 7 possible food moments with each other: breakfast,
lunch, supper - a cup of tea and scones, a coffee break, a drink together and going out for
ice cream.
To be human is to do interesting things - often with
food.
To be human is to do interesting things - usually with
others.
To be human is to do life in relationships, friendships, and
meetings.
Here in John 21:1-14 we have this interesting story that
takes place at the Lake of Galilee. Its key characters are Peter and Jesus.
WORKING - WITHOUT ANY LUCK
At times in life, people work hard, but they get no
catches.
Salesmen and saleswomen of the world tell me your
stories.
DETAILS IN THIS STORY
This story has interesting details: 153 large fish, bread
and a charcoal fire.
Then there is the invitation, “Come have breakfast
together.”
A GOOD QUESTION: WHAT HAVE YOU CAUGHT IN YOUR LIFE?
What have you caught in life? List 153 things.
Caught a good milk shake place on Route 30 near Crestline,
Ohio. Caught a truck driver in
Pennsylvania on Christmas Day off Route 80. He was just sitting there eating
alone at a truck stop. I was alone, so I asked to join him. We had a great
conversation about family. He said he had to make a living - driving a truck -
far from home on Christmas day. I met
Leo Cravatta, a great Italian plumber from West Pittston Pa on a religious
retreat at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. Is he still alive? Had breakfast with my sister Mary a dozen
times in Virginia Beach and she doesn’t like to go out to eat.
What have been your breakfasts? Could you list 153 of them?
Is breakfast with the boys at Burger King or McDonalds or
the Diner or Chick and Ruth’s one of the best blessings of retirement. Do men do that more than women? I don’t know.
Looking at your life, what have you caught? Whom have you
met? Did you have any moments like today’s gospel from John 21: 1-14?
What would it be like to have breakfast with Jesus? Who would do the talking? What would be the
topics and themes.
If Jesus asked you, “What have you caught?” What have you netted? How would you answer that baby?
What is your favorite breakfast? Would you take fish?
In today’s gospel, it says none his disciples dared to
ask Jesus, “Who are you?” Would you dare
to ask Jesus that question: Try it.
Would Jesus dare to ask you that question?
Obviously, Jesus went fishing and caught Peter.
Has God ever caught you?
Please describe?
For example ….
It was a dark church in Cincinnati and I just happened to
walk into that church on a Wednesday afternoon and I felt overwhelmed by God and ....
It was an early morning moment when I was fishing and God ....
It was a clear star moon lit night and I was alone
walking the dog and I looked up at the dark star filled night sky and Jesus ....
It was something a priest once said in a sermon and ....
CONCLUSION
In this homily of sorts I gave some random questions and comments coming out
of today’s gospel.
I’m just fishing.
Can the whole of life be summed up with two words, “Gone
Fishing?”
