“That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: ‘It is the Lord.’ Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him, and cast himself into the sea” (John 21, 7).
First Prelude: Behold the Apostles in the ship and Jesus near them on the shore.
Second Prelude: O my Jesus, grant me a pure and love-inflamed heart that I may find joy in Thy divine presence and glorify Thee by my works.
First Point
John is the First to Recognize the Beloved Master
Though Jesus had at an earlier date worked a similar miracle for His Apostles, nevertheless, at first, they knew Him not. Only the eye of the virgin disciple penetrated the mystic veil which enveloped his Lord, and he called out to Peter: “It is the Lord.” Here we see confirmed the words of our Saviour: “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5, 8). Would you, my soul, recognize Jesus, feel His nearness, receive His inspirations and graces, then you must be solicitous to preserve and increase purity of heart. With the Psalmist often say: “A clean heart create in me, O God!” But avoid scrupulously the least faults and imperfections, and be zealous in the practice of mortification and retirement. Then, like the beloved disciple you, too, will be the object of the especial love of Jesus by virtue of purity of heart. Only in so far as your heart is purified and chastened, will it be receptive for the fire of divine love.
The virgin disciple was at the same time, the beloved disciple of our Blessed Lord. He had imbibed love in its proper source, namely, the Heart of His loving Master, which love, in turn, made it possible for him to recognize the nearness of the Beloved. “He that loveth Me,” said our Lord, “I will love him and will manifest myself to him” (John 14, 21). The eye of love detects everywhere the secret operations of Divine Providence. It recognizes in all occurrences the loving guidance of God’s fatherly wisdom and goodness. A soul loving God, confides cheerfully and with childlike trust in His loving direction and guidance and always thinks at heart: The Lord has imposed this trial on me for my sanctification. The Lord enlightens me in prayer, impels me to strive for greater perfection, encourages me to immolate myself without reserve, invigorates and strengthens me. I will follow Him and purify my heart more and more with the aid of His grace, that, loving Jesus more ardently, I may attain to permanent union with Him.
Second Point
Peter Casts Himself into the Sea to Meet Jesus
Hardly had Peter heard the words: “It is the Lord!” when he desired to be with Him. Although the ship was quite near the shore, Peter cast himself into the water to reach Jesus without delay. His love permitted not a thought of the dangers to which he was exposing himself—the ardent desire to be with Jesus alone filled his soul. How marvelous are the effects of divine love described so beautifully in the Imitation: “Love often knoweth no measure, but groweth fervent above all measure; love would willingly do more than it can, because it conceiveth that it may and can do all things. It can achieve anything; and it doth perform and effect many things, where he that loveth not, doth faint and fall prostrate” (Bk. 3, Chap. 5). How necessary is it not, when practicing works of charity, to arm ourselves with courage and confidence, to expose ourselves courageously and cheerfully to the difficulties and dangers encountered in our holy vocation, solely that we may fulfill the holy Will of God. Let us, then, like Peter cast ourselves into the ocean of labors and sufferings, and renouncing generously all comfort and convenience, labor untiringly in the interests of our Blessed Lord. Countless saints have done likewise, and many of our fellow religious are worthy models of the heroic love which forgets self and sacrifices all in the endeavor to attain perfection and intimate union with God.
By fervent prayer and constant fidelity in the daily exercise of mortification we will seek to increase the love of God in our hearts that it may move us to a holy zeal, capable of doing all things with the grace of God. In the difficulties and trials of my holy calling, have I experienced that love gives strength for all things, or have I, on the contrary, yielded to discouragement and dejection?
Affections: O my Divine Saviour, what admirable models hast Thou given to us in Thy two disciples! The tender love of the virgin disciple recognized Thee first, and Peter’s fiery zeal induced him to overcome all obstacles to reach Thee. Ah, when will a spark of this pure and ardent love enkindle my heart, enlighten my understanding, sanctify my actions! O my beloved Jesus, I implore Thee, create a clean heart in me, cleanse me more and more of my sins, give me a truly humble, submissive and love-inflamed heart, that I may adore Thee in all Thy loving dispensations, love and praise Thee and seek my sole happiness in the accomplishment of Thy holy Will.
Resolutions: I will strive to testify my love to my Saviour by purity of heart and generous immolation of self in the service of God.
Spiritual Bouquet: “The disciple whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: ‘It is the Lord.’”
Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .
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