BREAKFAST  WITH  JESUS

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?”