Abundance and love

Listening to the Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listening to the Word

John 21:1-19

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe′ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan′a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb′edee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflection

The gospel can be divided into three parts: the great catch of fish under the instructions of the Risen Lord, the recognition of the Risen Lord in the sharing of the bread, and Peter's commission to lead the flock of Christ. Each part has implications for us followers of Jesus.

First, Jesus' resurrection brings life to fullness and abundance.

Victorious over death, Jesus will share the fruits of new life with his disciples. The abundance of life is symbolized by the great catch of fish that almost breaks the net. Peter took the incitive to go fishing at night, then the other disciples followed him; however, they caught nothing. At dawn, Jesus appeared and instructed them to cast the nets on the right side, so they caught 153 fish.

Peter and the disciples knew how to fish and knew the correct technics; nonetheless, they obeyed Jesus by following different instructions against the traditional way of fishing. It is by obeying Jesus that they were able to catch fish. This resonates Peter's words in the first reading: "We must obey God rather than men." The fullness of life and abundance comes through the obedience of God.

Second, the sharing of bread symbolizes the real presence of the Risen Lord in the Eucharist.

The Lord lives and remains with us by giving himself every time we celebrate the mass. The Eucharist keeps alive the spirit of the Christian communities and nourishes all the members with spiritual food. As the disciples recognized the Risen Lord by the breaking of bread, we too may recognize Him every day in our lives by our active participation in the Eucharist.

Finally, Christ asks for a commitment from His friends.

Jesus takes Peter alone to get from him a declaration of love. Three times Peter denied Jesus on His passion, and three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him on His resurrection. That testimony of love had an evident reason: to heal the wounds caused by fear, vanity, and pride. Only then does Jesus entrust the guidance of his sheep to Peter. For such a great responsibility as the direction of the Church requires a love without limit.