The custom of reading about the appearances of the Lord in the weeks after Easter is not only interesting, it also helps to build one's confidence in the fact of the resurrection - central to the faith. It helps to develop belief in Jesus's presence at all times.
Today we think of the women's experience at the empty tomb, and of what happened when the disciples and Peter met the risen Lord on the shore of Lake Galilee: "Very early on a Sunday the women came to visit the sepulchre and found the great stone at its door was already rolled away, and entering the sepulchre they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were frightened. He said to them `Be not afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified; he is risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him.' And he added: `Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.' "
After the hard and testing days of the trial and crucifixion, the peace and quiet of Galilee would have appealed to the exhausted disciples - a good reason for a return visit to the lakeside they knew so well and loved.
Saint Peter was deeply ashamed as he remembered his very recent threefold denial of his Lord . . . as he recalled the way Jesus turned and looked at him. Now he was meeting him again, face to face.
When Peter and the disciples returned from fishing on the lake Jesus was there on the shore, and invited them to breakfast. After breakfast Jesus carried out his firm intention of convincing St Peter that his disloyalty had been forgiven, and his apostleship completely restored.
After the denials of his master and friend, to whom he had promised unending loyalty, it is not surprising St Peter went out and wept bitterly. The stinging tears seemed to get more intense. He must have been surprised that he was specially named and invited to Galilee: "Surely not me of all people . . . one who let the Master down." Imagine his relief and joy when it was made abundantly clear that he was accepted, forgiven, loved, and fully restored to be an apostle.
That is the striking message that comes to us from Christ's appearance to Peter on the lakeside. The same message has come to all who were too depressed by their failures in life to accept Jesus's invitation, and therefore missed the big welcome.
The appearance of the risen Lord makes us glad:
"Jesu, stand among us in thy risen power".