GO FISHING
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: There are times when we get tired of working especially when work seems pointless, when people don’t appreciate or affirm us.
The Word of God reminds us that work—whatever work it maybe—is important and work is a place where we encounter God. We pray that we understand the importance-dignity of work and be open to meeting God in our workplace.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have given in to the drudgery of work, we ask the Lord for his mercy.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you were with the disciples
when they laboured in vain and caught nothing:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you were with the disciples
and fed them bread and fish on the shore of Tiberias:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you were with Peter
and commissioned him to care for your sheep:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God of life,
in your risen Son
you reveal your abiding presence among us
and summon those reborn in baptism
to lives of worship and service.
Fill this assembly with reverence
as we come before you in prayer.
Grant us courage and zeal
in bearing witness before the world
to Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41
Psalm Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
Response I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
or: Alleluia.
Reading 2 Revelation 5:11-14
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ is risen, creator of all;
he has shown pity on all people.
Gospel John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are with the disciples on the Sea of Tiberias. Reflect on your thoughts and feelings when they catch nothing; when they have a miraculous haul of fish after they heed Jesus’ advice; when Jesus feeds them breakfast.
Sunday Snippets
Sue Bohlin, Bible teacher, wife, and mother, writes: “I was cleaning the grungy bathtub of a family that wouldn’t notice and would never acknowledge or thank me even if they did. I was getting madder by the minute, throwing myself a pity party, when the Lord broke into my thoughts. He quietly said: ‘I see you. I appreciate what you’re doing.’ Whoa! That totally changed everything. Suddenly, I was able to do a menial job—and later, more important ones—as a labor of love… it forever changed my view of work.”
What Sue experienced while cleaning a bathtub, Jesus’ disciples experienced on the Sea of Tiberias! They encountered God in their workplace (so did Moses, Gideon, Paul…).
The gospels portray the disciples as very human: they are often bewildered; seldom understand Jesus’ ways; often do their own thing. And that continues after the resurrection.
Jesus has appeared to them twice. But he’s not with them constantly and he hasn’t told them what to do. They don’t know what lies ahead. So, they do what they’ve done and know how to do: they go fishing!
They know Jesus is not far from them and will come to them. And he does! They encounter him in their workplace. With his guidance, they catch a large haul of fish. This encounter in the workplace renews them and they can go back to being fishers of men and missionaries of the gospel (as the first reading attests).
Sometimes we think or act as if life is divided into two disconnected parts: God is in one spiritual dimension and work is in another dimension. The Christian view of work: all of life relates to God and is sacred, whether we’re making a business presentation or changing diapers or teaching someone the faith. Further, God calls us to make him the centre of our lives and wants us to invite him into our work; he wants to be Lord of our work. And as Sue Bohlin experienced while cleaning a bathtub, God sees everything we do, and he appreciates it and will reward us, regardless of the type of work we do.
Often, we find ourselves in the disciples’ position. We aren’t sure what to do. Jesus seems to come and go from our lives, or we from his. It’s then we must keep doing what we do. We work faithfully and wait patiently… for an encounter with the Lord… who asks us what we have caught, or who sees and appreciates what we are doing!
When I am at the crossroads of life, let me “go fishing”! May I encounter God in my work and may this encounter strengthen me for his mission for me.
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: The apostles rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonour. When I encounter suffering in my life, is there anything that helps me accept it? Do I know anyone suffering right now but is also exuding a kind of spiritual joy?
Reading 2: “Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe” cried out in blessing. Do I praise God with my life?
Gospel: Why did John recognize Jesus before the others? How can I cultivate the same everyday familiarity with Jesus that the disciples had?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us pray to the Lord for all those who bear witness to him in their life and ministry: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that empowered by the Holy Spirit, we may give convincing witness to the freeing and healing power of the Risen Christ, we pray…
R: For the College of Cardinals: that the Lord grant them wisdom and courage to discern his will when they gather in Conclave to choose the next Successor of Peter, we pray…
R: For our world: that God may turn hearts from violence, open minds to the pain that it causes, and open new opportunities for dialogue and understanding, we pray…
R: For all who face suffering or persecution for the faith: that the Spirit may strengthen them to give faithful witness to Christ and God’s love for all, we pray…
R: For all who are ill: that the Risen Lord may give them hope, healing, and new life, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may surrender our disappointments and failures to God so that we may be renewed and raised up for new opportunities, we pray…
L: God our Father, strengthen us with the power of your Son that our faith may remain firm in persecution and trials, when life and work seem meaningless. May our encounter with him rejuvenate us always. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
the apostles decided to go fishing,
to go back to being fishermen.
Then they encountered you again.
Fish without number.
Nets too heavy for lifting now.
You gave more than they could ever hold.
Lord,
when we get discouraged,
may we encounter you.
Like John, let us recognize you…
that the man on the “shore” is you!
We too want to see with the eyes of love,
to be weighed down with the miraculous catch of love,
and experience your care for us.
- Anne Osdieck (adapted )
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God our Father,
make us more aware of the presence
of your risen Son Jesus among us.
Make us feel his presence
when we are toiling and struggling as if in vain.
Make us recognize him as a guest
in our homes and at our family meals.
Make us fully aware that he is among us,
your Son, Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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