These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
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." (Jn 21:1-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041026.cfm
The Resurrection changes everything. Breakfast by the Sea invites us to recognize the Lord in the midst of daily life. He is with us when we least expect. It takes the Beloved Disciple to point out to the others: “It is the Lord!” Of course, the loaves and fishes remind of the Eucharist and of the One who feeds us with the food of eternal life. https://youtu.be/RiRUpiq8TKc?si=RGDlHe3Q1qdjk1mm
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." (Lk 24:35-48)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040926.cfm
Are we willing to be witnesses of what we have seen and heard? That is the central question of faith. In a time of war and violence and threats to annihilate a whole civilization and apparently threats against the pope, who will witness to the Lord of Peace, who commanded us to love our enemies? https://youtu.be/fYz14jEoaeU?si=9Bs325EyZiy6nU1A
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:13-35)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040826.cfm
Like the two disciples of Emmaus, we don’t travel alone on the journey of faith. The Lord walks with us, speaks to our hearts, and is revealed in the Breaking of the Bread. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of the Risen Lord that frees us to live and love as he taught. https://youtu.be/3J35MEEgX3c?si=UA-XKQTKdbfVQ11v
Jesus said to her, “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her. (Jn 20:11-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040726.cfm
Padre is getting old. I sent out today’s reflection yesterday. I’m sure that Mary Magdalene will forgive me. After all the centuries she was slandered by the “Fathers” of the church, we can never praise her faith and devotion enough. Finally, her memorial has been raised to the rank of a feast, equal to the apostles, because she is. https://youtu.be/YoIgNsfC1qc?si=CKaNENVSJ6NpQ2GW
Jesus said to her, “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her. (Jn 20:11-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040726.cfm
Today’s encounter between Mary Magdalene and the Risen Lord is the conclusion of the Easter Sunday gospel. She is the first to receive an appearance. In the distant past, some wrongly identified Mary Magdalene with the woman caught in adultery. That has been corrected, and the title the ancient church gave her has been affirmed. Mary Magdalene is the “Apostle to the Apostles.” https://youtu.be/kJQI8mBpsnM?si=vn7M6JMwWoi_jzi_
