Daily Gospel Reflection for April 25, 2025: Friday in the Octave of Easter

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 21:1-14

Again we see how generous Jesus is. The disciples don’t just catch a few fish, they catch 153 large tilapia (also known as Peter’s fish). It’s fun to imagine the feelings in this scene. The disciples may have felt disappointed after a night of work with no catch. This is their livelihood. They may also have felt frustration and a sense of futility at being told to try again. 

After working all night, I’d be tired and want to go home to sleep off my aggravation at not catching any fish. I don’t think I’d want to try again. But they did try again, and their joy and incredulity at this beyond-bountiful catch must have been so fun for Jesus to see. It wasn’t until I watched The Chosen and saw the happiness on TV Jesus’ face when He performed miracles that I realized that He finds joy in our excitement and joy. Peter is so excited he jumps into the sea to go to His Savior. Even though this was their third encounter with the risen Lord, they are still exuberant. 

We, too, experience this array of emotions in our spiritual life. There are times when life is hard and we feel like God is far from us, times when we aren’t successful in what we attempt and feel like a failure. Then Jesus comes and lavishes His abundant love on us and we are joyful. We are reminded of how much we need Him and must rely on Him. 

I believe that in those times He smiles because He sees us reach out to Him and allow Him to help. It’s good to have a Savior who never tires of helping us. Every time we encounter Him, whether it’s the first or the four-hundredth, we are excited and delighted. He is so good!

Ponder:

When have you encountered Jesus and felt joy?

Pray:

Jesus, when life is hard, help me to lean on You. When life is joyful, help me praise You. 

Copyright 2025 Merridith Frediani