Today's Gospel

Get Ready for a Big Catch

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant, where we are exploring the genius of the gospel. Each day looking for a word or a phrase or an idea guided by the Holy Spirit in the daily gospel reading so that we can anchor our day in that word, phrase or idea that the Spirit leads us to. Today, we are reading from the Gospel of John chapter 21, verses 1 through 14. Jesus has risen from the dead and the disciples are trying to work out what's happened, what they're going to do, there are various sightings. After this, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called The Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. And Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." And they said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat. But that night, they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach. Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

And Jesus said to them, "Do you have any fish?" And they answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish was so vast. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, but about 100 yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish lying on it and bread. And Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took bread and gave it to them. And same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

So what jumps out at you? What do we see again here? We see Jesus eating, asking for food, bringing food. Why? He's not a ghost. He has risen from the dead, body and soul. And of course, what strikes me here today is disciples have been out, they've been fishing, been fishing all night, haven't caught anything. Jesus comes along and says, "All right, put the nets down there on the right." They catch so many fish they can't even haul it in. How many times in my life have I tried to make things happen by my own strength, my own will, my own hard work and long work and to little result? And then Jesus comes along, Holy Spirit comes along and says, "Why don't you try this?" And the catch is enormous. The impact is enormous. Are you doing things your way or are you following the direction of the Lord? As we go through our day today, let's think about that. Are you doing things your way or are you following the direction of the Lord? Have an amazing day. Remember, don't just be yourself. Be the-very-best-version-of-yourself, all that God created you to be.