Reading 1
When the captain and the court officers had brought the apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
"We gave you strict orders, did we not,
to stop teaching in that name?
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man's blood upon us."
But Peter and the apostles said in reply,
"We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
The Sanhedrin ordered the apostles
to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
Gospel
At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We also will come with you."
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
They answered him, "No."
So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something."
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught."
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast."
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?"
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being 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?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep."
Jesus said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a 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.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
Reflection
The details of today’s Gospel remind us that Our Lord does not need us, and yet, He loves us endlessly. As St. Peter observes, Jesus knows everything already. Still, He asks us questions, calls us to more, and works wonders in our lives for our sakes. He wants us to live the lives we are designed for, and He wants the good news of His victory and love to spread to the ends of the earth. Jesus, perfect and powerful in Himself, desires that all people may experience true fulfillment and joy in Him.
Peter and his companions decide to go fishing, even though they have already seen the Lord, and Jesus has already told them “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” Jesus then appears to them on the shore, and without a word of chastisement, blesses them with an overabundance of fish. When they drag the fish ashore, they see Jesus beside a charcoal fire, with fish and bread already cooking upon it. This scene is both a miraculous gift and a gentle invitation to humility for the disciples. Jesus has called them to do something so much more important than catch fish—so while He reveals Himself in His generosity by bestowing 153 fish, He reminds them that fishing is not the role He is calling them to.
Then, when Jesus asks Peter three times “Do you love me?”, we remember that Jesus does not ask out of insecurity or uncertainty. Jesus knows the depths of Simon Peter’s heart better than Peter does. These questions are a blessed opportunity for Peter, a chance to express love as many times as he had denied Jesus. Further, proclaiming his love over and over prepares Peter for the ensuing prediction of his death and the command: “Follow Me.” We, too, are called to praise Him unceasingly, not because God somehow requires our affirmation, but because it will make us into better disciples.
As we ponder today’s Gospel, we place ourselves in the position of Peter and understand that to love Jesus is not to retreat into our comfortable pastimes, but rather to follow Him, feeding and tending His sheep. Jesus lacks nothing, but He longs to give us lives filled with joy and purpose that will bear fruit for eternity in the lives of others.
We also join the Universal Church in prayer for the next successor of St. Peter. In a few days, the cardinals will begin the process of electing our new pope. We ask the Holy Spirit to guide them and our Church, ensuring that the next pope will “feed Christ’s sheep,” with love and faithfulness.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
Copy Permalink
