The Firm Foundation of Trust in God

Friday in the Octave of Easter // April 10th, 2026 // John 21:1-14

HE IS RISEN!

When Jesus shows Himself at the Sea of Tiberias in today’s Gospel, we are told that “he revealed himself in this way.” As minor of a phrase as this may seem, it really sets the stage for what Christ is about to do. If we need to be told that He reveals Himself in a specific way and not just shown this, then there is clear emphasis placed on the fact that God knows exactly how to tell us something in a way that will truly penetrate our hearts. We just have to be open to Him.

When the disciples begin to fish, they initially catch nothing. Keep in mind - this is before Jesus appears to them in this scenario. Relying on their own ability to fish, they do not succeed. It is only after Jesus stands on the beach and tells them to “cast the net over the right side of the boat” that they then catch so many fish that they aren’t even able to haul in the net. Just when we begin to think that the work we put in to accomplish certain goals means nothing, and just when we think it is impossible to achieve, Jesus shows us what we are capable of with His help. What seems unattainable to our human minds is able to be done with the help of the One who came down from Heaven, as a human, to show us the plans He has for us. He shows us that we are ultimately meant to rely on Him always. We are not meant to do this life alone; we must rely on our faith in God.

The second thing to note about this instance is the fact that Jesus is standing on a shore when He tells the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat. Jesus is standing on the solid ground; the disciples are in the midst of the unsteady sea. When Jesus guides us, His guidance is rooted in constant, unfailing, steady love. We rely on what we know to be routine; we rely on what we think will produce steady results, but truly, Christ is the only foundation we can be sure of. He is firm always in His love.

We read later that “none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they realized it was the Lord.” Some things we experience in our lives are just so miraculous, or they may just work out so perfectly, that there is no one it could be attributed to but God. That is what happens with the disciples in today’s Gospel. They knew that as soon as they let go and listened, and succeeded by pulling in an abundance of fish, that it had to have been another miracle from God. Thus, they didn’t even begin to question. This is a perfect model of trust.

When they come to shore, Jesus is hosting another meal for them. At the end of every struggle, at the end of any trial we face, Jesus is waiting for us to come back to His table and simply be with Him. Being with Him and receiving Him is the greatest gift we could ever receive. So truly, in this Easter season, let us rejoice in being with our Lord, for He is risen!