Reading 1
Acts 4:1-12
After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
“Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
Gospel
Jn 21:1-14
Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
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.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
Meditation: Acts 4:1-12
If we are being examined today about a good deed … (Acts 4:9)
Can you hear the exasperation in Peter’s question? He and John had just healed a man who had been lame from birth, and instead of being impressed or overjoyed, the religious authorities were offended! What was so terrible about doing such an act of kindness—a miraculous act, no less—that it warranted time in jail and a full inquisition?
It seems that these leaders simply could not accept anything that came with the name of Jesus attached to it, not even an obvious miracle. They had such a strong prejudice against Jesus and his followers that they felt compelled to find fault in anything that the disciples did in Jesus’ name. They even seemed to have had no thought for the man who was healed! All they wanted to do was squelch any mention of Jesus, his resurrection, or his continuing power to do good for the people of Israel.
What a caution this story is! Many of us have biases and prejudices—even some that we are not aware of. But God calls us to love all people and to treat everyone with the same honor and respect that he has for them. There is no room for bias in the kingdom of God!
So how can you tell where you may be off base? One simple way is to watch your response to someone’s good fortune or good news. If you catch yourself having a strong negative reaction, take a moment to examine what’s going on in your heart. Is the thought or reaction in line with Jesus’ call to love? Does it mesh with the knowledge that we are all sinners in need of redemption? Or is there perhaps a bit of envy or resentment buried deep down that is making it hard for you to rejoice or thank God for his goodness?
Not only does God move in mysterious ways, he often chooses to work through people we may not expect. So keep your eyes open today, and see where God may be doing a “good deed” in unlikely places.
“Jesus, I want to see people with your eyes. Forgive me for the times I have rejected people based on my own assumptions and biases. Give me a heart like yours that can see the good in everyone.”
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