A Second Chance
May 2, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Third Sunday of Easter
Imagine your relationship with your best friend. Do you hang out every day, living like there’s no tomorrow? Do you make time to see each other and have each other’s backs? A best friend like that is someone to hold on to. Practically irreplaceable. Now imagine losing that best friend. You can imagine how much that would hurt.
The disciples had a similar friendship with Jesus. Probably even greater than our relationship with our own best friend. And when they found out Jesus was gone, that he had died, they were pierced by their feelings of grief, abandonment, confusion, loneliness, and so on. They began to feel lost… gone… nowhere to go.
Without good friends to keep us accountable and show us where to go, we tend to go back to our old ways. In the Gospel today, that is exactly what the disciples did. Before they met Jesus, they were great fishermen, so you can understand why Peter’s response to Jesus’ absence would be “I am going fishing”. This is the only thing he knows without Jesus and, being the leader that he is, the other disciples follow him.
They fish all night and catch nothing. Sound familiar? Isn’t this kind of Deja vu? This is a similar story to how Jesus called his disciples the first time! Jesus appears (without them realizing it is Jesus) and asks if they have caught any fish. Then Jesus tells them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” And they did! In this miracle, John remembers and recognizes that “It is the Lord.” When he tells Peter, without any hesitation, ignoring the shame that keeps most of us at a distance, Peter jumps out of the boat and goes straight to Jesus. The first time Peter found out he was truly Jesus, the Messiah, he said, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
See the difference between how Peter reacts in his past to now? Peter was given a second chance and he takes full advantage of this opportunity. He has come to know Jesus and learn that he must cling to him at all times, even when he feels unworthy. After Jesus and his disciples have breakfast, Jesus repeatedly asks Peter, “Do you love me?” and he takes full advantage once again and says, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” This is our reminder to take full advantage of the opportunities Jesus has given you. After all the chances He has offered you, don’t you think He deserves one?
Related Stories
Friday, December 05, 2025
E-Editions
Events
Third Sunday of Easter
Imagine your relationship with your best friend. Do you hang out every day, living like there’s no tomorrow? Do you make time to see each other and have each other’s backs? A best friend like that is someone to hold on to. Practically irreplaceable. Now imagine losing that best friend. You can imagine how much that would hurt.
The disciples had a similar friendship with Jesus. Probably even greater than our relationship with our own best friend. And when they found out Jesus was gone, that he had died, they were pierced by their feelings of grief, abandonment, confusion, loneliness, and so on. They began to feel lost… gone… nowhere to go.
Without good friends to keep us accountable and show us where to go, we tend to go back to our old ways. In the Gospel today, that is exactly what the disciples did. Before they met Jesus, they were great fishermen, so you can understand why Peter’s response to Jesus’ absence would be “I am going fishing”. This is the only thing he knows without Jesus and, being the leader that he is, the other disciples follow him.
They fish all night and catch nothing. Sound familiar? Isn’t this kind of Deja vu? This is a similar story to how Jesus called his disciples the first time! Jesus appears (without them realizing it is Jesus) and asks if they have caught any fish. Then Jesus tells them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” And they did! In this miracle, John remembers and recognizes that “It is the Lord.” When he tells Peter, without any hesitation, ignoring the shame that keeps most of us at a distance, Peter jumps out of the boat and goes straight to Jesus. The first time Peter found out he was truly Jesus, the Messiah, he said, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
See the difference between how Peter reacts in his past to now? Peter was given a second chance and he takes full advantage of this opportunity. He has come to know Jesus and learn that he must cling to him at all times, even when he feels unworthy. After Jesus and his disciples have breakfast, Jesus repeatedly asks Peter, “Do you love me?” and he takes full advantage once again and says, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” This is our reminder to take full advantage of the opportunities Jesus has given you. After all the chances He has offered you, don’t you think He deserves one?