Jn. 21:1-14
Life is a mystery. We may not be able to arrive at definite answers for certain Why’s due to this mystery dimension. In spite of this, we seek and also try to give meaning to our life. I am sure that there may be moments, wherein, we might have encountered a sense of meaninglessness; let me pose this question to you: Who gives meaning to our life?
In today’s gospel we see that the disciples were going back to their old profession – fishing. We need to keep in mind that they had already witnessed the risen Christ twice; yet they experienced a certain amount of vagueness with regard to their future. They worked the whole night but the results were discouraging. At that juncture, Jesus appears to them as a stranger and exactly recreating a situation of their first encounter. Jesus asks them to cast their net on the right, listening to His words, they act exactly as He prompted. This miracle was sufficient for them to recognize the stranger, who fills their empty boats with a catch beyond their imagination…
The presence of the Lord transforms their fruitless night into a fruitful day. John recognizes this wonder and proclaims: it is the Lord! They experience a sense of meaninglessness and vagueness about their future but the presence of the Lord enlightens them about the mission for which they are called; they are no more ‘fishermen’ but they are commissioned by the Lord as ‘the fishers of men’ and they are called to continue the same mission till the end of time. They need not worry about the future or meaninglessness because one who is with them is the Lord.
When life perplexes us with the mystery dimension or when we feel meaninglessness in life, we need to remind ourselves that He is there on the shore… He knows that we are exhausted and awaits us with the Eucharistic meal… Let us continue our mission according to His vision…“When you wonder about the mystery of yourself, look to Christ who gives you the meaning of life.” (John Paul II).