Seeing Jesus in the Middle of Our Ordinary Lives

Lent and Easter often stir something deep in us. We fast, pray, walk with Jesus to Calvary, and rejoice at the empty tomb. We feel renewed. We make promises to change.

But then life crept back in.

The emails, homework, the traffic, the work meetings, the ministry tasks, the to-do lists. Slowly, without realising it, we return to what is familiar. We go back to old habits, routines, even old ways of thinking. We pick up the nets again just like Peter and the others did.

That is what happens in this Sunday’s Gospel. After the resurrection, Peter says, “I’m going out to fish,” and the others follow. They fish all night but catch nothing. At dawn, Jesus stands on the shore, but they do not realise it is Him.

It is a moment of regression, a return to their former life. Fishing was not just a job for them. It was their identity before Jesus called them. After the pain of the crucifixion and the confusion that followed even after hearing He had risen they did not know what to do. Jesus was not with them the way He used to be. They felt lost and leaderless.

So they went back to what was familiar. Safe. Manageable.

And do we not do the same?

After the intensity of Lent or a powerful encounter with God, we can feel a little directionless. We want to follow Jesus, but we are not always sure how. Without someone guiding us step by step, we fall back into routine. We return to busyness. Prayer slips. Hope fades. We start surviving, not seeking.

But then Jesus speaks: “Cast your net on the right side of the boat.” And when they do, the net is full. It is in that moment that John says, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7)

Why did only John recognise Him?

John was the beloved disciple. He stayed close to Jesus. Many believe his love and attentiveness made him spiritually alert. He noticed the pattern. This had happened before the same miracle when Jesus first called them (Luke 5). That memory opened his eyes.

The others were still caught up in the task. Focused on the work. Maybe still burdened by guilt or disappointment. They did not see what was right in front of them until John pointed it out.

And maybe that is us too.

We serve in church. We juggle responsibilities. Even in ministry, we get caught up doing the work of God and forget to look for God Himself. We teach catechism, plan events, sing in the choir but do we stop long enough to see Him, to hear His voice?

Still, Jesus comes. He meets us where we are in our weariness, in our routine, even in our regression. He stands quietly on the shore, providing, guiding, calling us back not just to work, but to relationship.

This Easter season, let us not go back to fishing in the dark. Let us not lose the fire Lent and Easter lit in us. Let us stay alert. Stay open. Be like John, ready to say with certainty: “It is the Lord!”

When we feel directionless or unsure of what to do, the guide to Jesus is through Scripture, as reminded by Fr Dominic in his homily. It is through His Word that we find our way back to Him, even when the path seems unclear.

Let this be our prayer: “It is the Lord.”

To recognise Him. To welcome Him. To never lose sight of Him. (BV)

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to recognise You in the middle of my ordinary life.
In the busyness and quiet, in joy and in routine, help me never to forget You are near.
Let my heart stay awake, always ready to say, “It is the Lord.”
Amen.