[Monday Motivation]
We’ve been looking at John 21:1-19, Jesus’ appearance to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee.
And particularly, we’re considering what this tells us about having a mission in life.
As St. John Chrysostom points out, Jesus hadn’t yet given the disciples their commission – and so they’re left without direction and return to doing what they know – fishing.
But it isn’t particularly productive. In fact, they catch nothing.
And so it is with us – without a mission in life, we’re are left undirected and unproductive. Oh, we might accomplish some things in a worldly sense, but in the deep spiritual sense of things, we don’t progress.
This is a reminder of the great importance of vocation and Plan of Life. Both are so lost these day. We devote Day 21 of 30 Days to Christian Meditation to this topic.
Our vocation is simply whether we give ourselves to God in religious life, or, for most of us, married life, and, for a few, consecrated single life.
A Plan of Life then maps out how we live out our vocation. How do we prioritize our time? In 30 Days, we present a Plan of Life ordered by relationships. For example, someone with a vocation to married life, the primary relationship is with God, a close second is spouse, then children, then a small circle of close friends and broader circle of acquaintances and the people God places before us.
The key is that our Vocation and our Plan of Life aren’t our design – they are given to us by God. He reveals them to us when we stay close to Him in prayer and listen to Him.
Notice this exchange.
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.”
Jesus doesn’t say, “you will find fish.” Sure, they find 153 of them. He says they will find something – something better – they will find Jesus and be led to their mission.
Postscript: John 21:1-19
At that time, 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.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”