Daily Homily Friday in Octave of Easter (John 21:1-14) “Why 153?”2020

Friday in Octave of Easter (John 21:1-14) “Why 153?”

Some of the information in the resurrection accounts is very specific.  One of the curious details in the story we read this Friday is the number of fish that are caught by the disciples. The writer says explicitly that there are one hundred fifty-three. Why is that number so important?

It might be for two reasons.  One thought is that this was the number of disciples in the first Christian community.  Another idea is that the number represents the number of species of fish in the known world at the time the story was written.  The writer also takes pains to say that the net was not torn. 

Was there a subtle message in these details?  Perhaps the writer was saying that the church was big enough for everyone.  The mission of the church was to cast the net wide and to catch as many followers for Jesus as possible. 

Whenever we begin a club or organization the question fast becomes who is in and who is out.  What are the qualifications to belong? The people who have membership quite often jealously throw up walls to keep people out.  We have good members and we have slackers.  The debate rages.  What does it mean to belong?

The writer of John seems to be very strict in several places in the Gospel about membership in the church and details who is saved and who is not. We wrestle with the same questions.  We do not want church membership to be taken for granted, yet we do not want our concentration to be on a litmus test for Christians.

Jesus is rich in mercy.  He came to proclaim his Gospel to all the nations.  We can never be satisfied with a small pure number of members.  We are on a mission to bring all people to Christ and make them a part of his Body.  Jesus desires all to be saved.  We never can forget that if we follow Jesus. 

Dear Parishioners,

          One of the unexpected benefits of streaming our Masses is that I have connected with a lot of people that I do not usually speak with.  Old friends have contacted me to say that they enjoy praying with me once again. Also, there are curiosity seekers (especially the young) who visit our virtual church.

          As we contemplate the Easter Gospels, we realize that we need to cast a wide net to evangelize.  I know many people who say they have relatives who no longer attend church.  Such people may not want to get out and come go to Mass Sunday morning, but maybe if they are invited to “see” Mass while their shut in it might be a first step back into active membership in the church.

          The task we have in front of us is to make these virtual contacts real life contacts.  Jesus did not call on us to be a virtual church.  He did not say take and look he said take and eat.  We need to come together again, as soon as it is safe, to experience community prayer again.

          Let’s pray that the virtual community we are praying together with now will be physically present with us when the time comes. Then we really will be church.

          May the Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints watch over us all today and preserve us from every danger.

                                                                   Fr. Mark