Good morning … Great is His faithfulness …
The Gospel According to John 21:1-14
Breakfast by the Sea
21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way, He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and [a]immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So, they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
- THE GREAT CATCH OF FISH – according to the notes of the Orthodox Study Bible is an image of the DISCIPLES bringing all of mankind to the knowledge of Jesus Christ fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah 16:16 – “Behold, I will send many fishermen, and they will fish them … After this, I will send many hunters, and they will hunt them upon every mountain, upon every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks … In the festal hymn of Pentecost in the Orthodox Church we sing to Christ, “Through the fishermen, You drew the world into Your net” …
- THE FISH: Became the symbol of the identity for the early Christians – The initials of the phrase “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior” – In Greek form the acronym ICHTHYS, which is Greek for “FISH” …
Psalm 28.11,1
The Lord will give strength to his people. Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end [a]we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.
Take Heed to Your Ministry
12 Let no one [b]despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, [c]in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to [d]doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
(v. 13): GIVE ATTENTION TO READING: - whether it’s personal reading or the public reading of Scripture during worship, it is all tied with exhortation – (preaching and doctrine – (teaching) … Like early Christians who had liturgical worship structure – which includes the reading of Scripture and the homily – the same roots of which were in the synagogue: and is still in practice today with the Orthodox Church, it’s beautiful …
The Gospel According to Luke 19:1-10
Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House
19 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up [a]and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, [b]make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he [c]made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all [d]complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
(vv. 3, 4): Theophylact sees the crowd symbolizing sins: “Crowded in by a multitude of passions and worldly affairs, he is not able to see Jesus …”
St. Ambrose of Milan sees parallels: (1): Zacchaeus being SHORT is indicating him being short on faith and virtue – (2): The fact Zacchaeus must ascend a TREE is showing no one attached to earthly matters can see Jesus; and (3): The Lord intending TO PASS THAT WAY reveals that Christ will approach anyone willing to repent and believe …
(v. 8): Zacchaeus uses the term GIVE his free and generous offering TO THE POOR, and RESTORE for what he owes those who he had cheated, this was not a gift but required by the LAW – (Exodus 22:1) … In so in doing both, Zacchaeus not only fulfills the Law, but also shows his love of the gospel …
(v. 9) THE TITLE SON OF ABRAHAM – indicates Zacchaeus has become like Abraham who was the patriarch of Israel … He was counted righteous by his faith, just like his patriarch Abraham – (the faith of Abraham), because Zacchaeus became generous towards the poor, and was able to be reunited to the people of God … Early records tell us he went on to be a bishop of the Church – ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY AND NOTES …
PSALM 5 – Morning Prayer Focus
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”
In Christ love Jared W Campbell
TOTAL TIME 20:49
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