Imagine you’re at the beach. It’s a beautiful place, with the smells of the sea breezes, the sound of the waves and the birds, the taste of the salt air. But it’s also a place where you have to work hard, because you depend on the sea for your survival. As someone who works in the fishing business, you’re constantly mending your nets, checking for leaks in your boat, and hoping that you’ll catch enough fish to sell. Last night the fish weren’t biting. It’s been like this the past few nights as well. You’re getting worried.

Imagine you head out again to fish, early in the morning. What’s on your mind? What’s on your heart? As you and your companions float on the waves, nets in the water, what might you say to them? Then suddenly you hear a distant voice. It’s somebody on the shore. It sounds like he’s asking if you caught anything. As you reply, “No,” what feelings does that word stir in you? “No – I haven’t caught anything.” But then the person says, quite clearly this time, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” Really? The other side? What might be there?

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your imagination. Envision yourself and your companions throwing the net over the other side of the boat. What do you find when you pull up the net?

The disciples suddenly recognize the person on the beach as Jesus when they cast their nets on the other side of the boat and find a tremendous surprise. Graced encounters with Jesus after his resurrection are almost always surprising and unexpected. Perhaps there’s something Jesus wants you to find in a place where you’re not used to fishing. Perhaps there’s something Jesus wishes you to find on the other side of a worrisome situation. Pray for the grace to trust Jesus’ words, to set out again, and to open your mind and heart to receive with wonder and amazement what you might find on the other side.

In prayer,
Fr. Chris Ryan, S.J.
Parochial Vicar