UNDERCOVER BOSS 3

In the TV series Undercover Boss, bosses of chain businesses go undercover to their own stores in various locations and engage in various jobs around the store to interact with the employees. Depending on the employee's impression, it will prove to the boss how important the job is to them. Sometimes an employee thinks they recognize the boss and they go off to the side and begin discussing their suspicions with other employees. Yet they would not dare to ask them, “Who are you?” (Jn 21:12)

Tuesday, we heard that Mary Magdalene was the first person to experience the risen Jesus. At first, she thinks Jesus is the gardener, until He tenderly calls her by name. The second story, the risen Lord appears in the upper room, although the doors were locked, and the disciples were hiding, thinking they are seeing a ghost. Until Jesus offers them peace. Today’s Gospel, the third appearance story, unfolds around Peter and some other disciples embarking on a fishing expedition. Once Jesus is gone, they return to business as usual. Our frustrated apostolic fishermen worked long and unsuccessfully through the night. As daybreak arrives, they see a figure on the shore. Something about this person’s dialog and command touches the Beloved Disciple, and he recognizes this person as the Lord.

Our Lord meets his disciples right where they are: frustrated, hungry, wet, and needing direction. He refreshes their spirits and their bodies with his eucharistic dawn on the beach. He waits on them with compassionate care. He models for us how we likewise are to serve one another, aware of the needs of all.

Yet, there is another aspect of the scriptures today. Peter finds almost superhuman strength, first, to haul in, by himself, the significant catch onto shore. The same catch that the other disciples, together, could not pull in. (Jn 21:6-11) Then, in our reading from Acts, Peter and John, who have healed a disabled person at the temple, results in a good bit of conversation, as the Sadducees ask, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7) Peter, once again, rises to the occasion and with courage presents an apologia (a defense of their action) for healing in the name of Jesus Christ. He directly refutes claims that anyone other than Jesus Christ mediates salvation. “He is the stone rejected, by you, … which has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11) for all salvation. He is the savior of the whole human race.

As we approach this morning meal, will we be as slow to recognize the Risen Lord, will we have the courage to present our apologia beyond these walls? We need to consider the other ways the risen Lord appears to us throughout our daily life? Will we recognize our Undercover Boss in the disguise of the ordinary people we encounter today? How will we respond to this encounter of the risen Lord