Karl Rahner writes that the quintessence of Christianity, according to Saint Paul, is that Christians have turned from the false gods of their past life, to serving a living and true God, who will come again to take them to glory. We have completed Lent, a time when we tried to cast aside our personal idols of success, pleasure, desire for recognition, addictions, and whatever seemed more important than the divine. In the Passion Narrative we read of disciples who betrayed their Lord, denied Him, and forgot his promise to rise from the dead. Perhaps in some ways they made the Messiah, the Christ, an idol. At least they seemed stuck in their own idea what Christ should be. He certainly should not be a short-order cook, but there he is making a breakfast of fish and bread on the shore. “Come, have breakfast” the Cook called. Imagine the emotions and thoughts of the fishermen who toiled all night but caught nothing. This was the third time the Risen Lord had appeared to them. This time these seven guys (Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, Zebedee’s sons, and two others) felt surprise, disbelief changing into belief, relief, humor at the situation, and unimaginable joy.

What is your relationship to Christ? Has the discipline of Lent improved that relationship? Do you experience surprise, deeper belief, and joy?