John the Evangelist takes us very far, truly offshore in the necessary understanding of the mystery of Christ who, Risen from the dead, continually precedes us in the ways of life. While the apostles try to find themselves after the Easter drama trying to return to life as always, the Risen Lord stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus>. The Master knew the hearts of his disciples. Easter has really changed everything and in such a radical way that it is not enough to resume the habits of before to find one’s own path. It is necessary, so to speak, to come to terms with Easter! The Lord Jesus is on the shore to help and accompany the disciples and not pretend nothing has happened and not to forget. On the contrary, what he saves is to remember the failure of disciples to be able to take a step forward in understanding the mystery of life rather than trying in every way to go back. In the Scriptures, obeying always means believing and believing always requires us to walk with God without letting anything hinder our remaining in the light of him. The apostles are happy to have been judged worthy to suffer outrages for the name of Jesus. Heroism that nourishes one’s narcissism or, more profoundly, the joy of being able to feel on one’s own skin how much the Lamb sacrificed for us to experience the gift of forgiveness. On the shores of the Sea of Tiberias, a liturgy of reconciliation is celebrated which allows each of the disciples, each one of them in his own way and in the personal measure of his emotional capacity, to renew his bond with the Lord. It is he who takes care of his disciples who seem to have forgotten their old profession and confirms that vocation that had gently snatched them from that profession: Follow me.

Commentary by b. Michael David, osb Community of the Koinonia de la Visitation

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey