Grace Enters When Obedience Begins

English Homily-Fifth Sunday of Easter-Fr. David StephenAfter the resurrection, the disciples return to fishing — reverting to what they know when clarity fades and results are slow. Christ meets them there, present but unrecognized, quietly waiting as he so often does in our own confusion and failure. When a stranger tells them to cast their nets one more time, they obey — and the catch is overwhelming. The spiritual principle is simple: grace enters when obedience begins. Not when we feel confident or strong, but when we trust God over our own plans, especially when obedience is inconvenient. When our efforts feel fruitless, we must not abandon the boat — and when we finally recognize him, we must be like Peter, who jumped into the water without hesitation because love knows no bounds.