Easter Friday: Christ in familiar surroundings

Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. 1255-1260 – c. 1318-1319) - Appearence on Lake Tiberias. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Siena, Italy

Fr Richard's homily for Easter Friday

Readings: https://universalis.com/20200417/mass.htm

Homily: Christ in familiar surroundings

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Today, the disciples are back in familiar surroundings. They’re back at their trade, doing exactly the same thing as when the Lord called them three years previously. Fishing is something that puts them at ease; the Sea of Tiberias is their home.

They go all night without catching a thing. It’s an illustration of the dryness they’re experiencing, perhaps a lack of hope. After their Friend’s death and Resurrection: “What happens now?” they may well be saying to themselves.

Then the Risen Jesus reveals Himself to them in a way they are familiar – with a demonstration of His boundless generosity. In an almost parallel episode to the beginning of His ministry (in Luke 5), He tells the disciples to put out their nets to starboard. The catch of fish overwhelms them. Then, once again, they recognise and rejoice in their Risen Lord and God, who is still calling them to be fishers of men.

The Risen Lord, along with His boundless generosity, is also present to us. He is, of course, fully, physically, substantially present in the Holy Eucharist – His glorified Body and Blood.

But also, in our familiar surroundings this Eastertide, in surroundings probably getting more familiar to us at this time, we can be reminded of Christ’s presence. Enjoying the sights and sounds of spring can remind us of Him who “through all things were made”. The Office of Readings of the Church today happens to be the “instructions to the newly baptised in Jerusalem”, a text from the very early Church. The reading reminds us that the baptised, by the sign of the Holy Spirit, have been “like to the glorious body of Christ.” The writer boldly states: “it is right to call [the baptised] ‘Christs’ or anointed ones.” We read that we’re “images of Christ”. And so when you see another baptised person – we’re reminded of Christ being among us.

Powerfully, Christ is present to us at home when we turn to Him in prayer. “Where two or three and gathered in my name,” Jesus said, “there am I in their midst.” (Mt 18:20) Something as simple as a sincere grace before meals ensures that we invite Christ to be with us at our meals, as He was at breakfast with His disciples on the shore of the Sea of Tiberius.

And so, let this time of staying a home be, in particular, a time of strengthening or perhaps even rediscovering family prayer. A family at prayer is so powerful – through it, Christ comes among us to strengthen us, show what our mission is, and to give us hope.

So, in this Easter season, may the Risen Christ be with you all.