by Pat Nordman

This is one of my favorite chapters in God's Word because here we can relate directly to Jesus' humanity. Who would have expected Jesus Himself to cook breakfast and invite His beloved friends! Imagine the understanding and love in this incredible act for these cherished followers who fled when He so needed them! Here we find the familiar and intimate relationship with One who does for us, in spite of what we do to Him. Oh, how we need to know this when we have done something that grieves God and others! How comforting and strengthening–and mending and amending–it is to our broken lives to have a Friend!

In his book, The Road Less Traveled, author M. Scott Peck, in his section on The Miracle of Serendipity (pp.253-260), tells us this is really grace: "...Grace, manifested in part by `valuable or agreeable things not sought for,' is available to everyone, but that while some take advantage of it, others do not... -Let me suggest that one of the reasons we fail to take advantage of grace is that we are not fully aware of its presence–that is, we don't find valuable things not sought for, because we fail to appreciate the value of the gift when it is given us.'"

Surely Jesus' invitation to the weary disciples was an unexpected grace, a serendipity. "Come, dine with Me!" He asks their companionship and is ready to provide their needs. Here is the sacrament and the ultimate union. He did not demand that they come and serve Him, nor did He tell them to go off to the side and eat; instead, He served them and ate with them. What a glorious testa-ment and truth--and treatment!

Many graces–serendipities–overflow in our daily life, but we won't find them unless we are tuned in to God's love, and unless we are most grateful for His providence. Perhaps providence is the gift of the awareness of His many gifts! We will have much more joyful lives if we recognize and appreciate these countless graces.
.