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O ur secular culture conditions us to believe that other dimensions of life are more primary for a fulfilled human life. We all pass through these different dimensions at one time or another: belongingness and love from others, social respect and stature, security (especially financial security), actualization of personal talents, physical health, and, finally, a long and healthy old age. But we can have these and still remain unfulfilled.

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena

Acts 4:1-12

Psalm 118:1-2+4, 22-24, 25-27a

J ohn 21:1-14 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri -as; and he revealed himself in this way. (2) Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together. (3) Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. (4) Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. (5) Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." (6) He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. (7) That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. (8) But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. (9) When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. (10) Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." (11) So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. (12) Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. (13) Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. (14) This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Meditation by Dick Hauser, S.J.

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

T he older I get the more I realize that the greatest gift God gives is the gift of faith in Jesus. Acts of the Apostles puts it eloquently: “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.”

It took me years to come to a full grasp of the importance of the gift of faith. Our secular culture conditions us to believe that other dimensions of life are more primary for a fulfilled human life. We all pass through these different dimensions at one time or another: belongingness and love from others, social respect and stature, security (especially financial security), actualization of personal talents, physical health, and, finally, a long and healthy old age.

But we can have these and still remain unfulfilled.

We are incredulous that the Jewish temple leaders could reject Jesus — the stone rejected by the builders! But a more important question arises for us: Is Jesus the cornerstone of our lives?  Is the presence and power of Jesus the integrating factor for every aspect of our lives? Or influenced by our secular culture have we substituted something else as our cornerstone?

After the Resurrection the power and presence of Jesus become the cornerstone for the apostles. Peter and the apostles fished all night catching nothing. Then at dawn Jesus arrived; at Jesus’ beckoning they cast their nets on the other side of the boat and filled them to the breaking point.

And Peter responds to the temple elders witnessing to the source of his power to heal the crippled man: “It is in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean that this man stands before you healed, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

And Jesus becomes our cornerstone to the degree our lives are transformed by his presence and power. During this Easter Season we pray for a fuller experience of our Risen Lord so we can exclaim with the psalmist, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it!” # # #

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU. – Bobot Apit

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