in because of the great number of fish.Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” At these words, “It’s the Lord!” Simon Peter put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and jumped into the water. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; they were not far from land, about a hundred meters.When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed into the boat and pulled the net to shore. It was full of big fish—one hundred and fifty-three—but, in spite of this, the net was not torn.Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” And not one of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” for they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and he did the same with the fish.This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after rising from the dead.

Reflections

“It’s the Lord!”Jesus appears to the disciples for the third time according to John. He makes himself visible by the Lake of Tiberias or Sea of Galilee. The apostles have gone back to fishing, but at that night, they did not catch anything. As they return ashore, Jesus shouts out to them if they have enough catch and therefore have something to eat. When they answer “nothing,”Jesus commands them to try again, throwing the net at the right side of the boat. Without questioning who he is, they obey. This must be the result of their previous utter disappointment in Jerusalem. Their minds are submissive to anyone including this unrecognized stranger and potential consumer of fish.The miraculous catch makes them recognize Jesus. Their effort to pull the net full of fish adds to their certainty that it is the Lord. Other fisher-folks at the vicinity are called to help. They have unmistakably identified him unlike when Jesus appeared in Jerusalem.Now there is something to eat. At meal time, Jesus again distributes bread and this time fish to his disciples. When the bread is distributed to us in the Eucharist, we must recognize it is the Lord.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019