They Caught Nothing!

Friday, April 25, 2025

Acts 4:1-12; Jn 21:1-14

Today’s Gospel highlights the transforming presence of the Risen Lord. 

As we can read, the disciples, who were called to be ‘fishers of men,’ go fishing, led by Peter. 

Why do Peter and his companions think of returning to their old profession? Maybe because they lacked food supplies that flowed freely when they were with Jesus, or they were dejected about Jesus’ death and saw no future in being his disciples any longer.  

Whatever may have been the cause of their decision! Though Peter made an individual decision, it found support from among his companions. 

The sea was their familiar place; their knowledge and ability as fishermen were beyond question; but still ‘they caught nothing.’ They were puzzled by this scenario. 

But once they act on Jesus’ direction to cast the net over the right side of the boat, they witness an abundant catch without much toil. Again, they are puzzled by this scenario, though they are now reminded of what Jesus had done before. 

What is not blessed by the Lord does not yield much fruit. Also, their achievement is minimal to nothing away from the Lord. In this sense, we may rephrase the sentence ‘they caught nothing’ as ‘they were nothing’ without the Lord in their lives. 

It is the Risen Lord’s own way of making his disciples realize that success in discipleship is possible only when he is present with them. 

Discipleship is about sticking to God’s will and carrying it out in the way He wants.

Let us pray that we may be faithful to our vocation by exercising God’s will. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar