Jn.21:1-19
“If we are faithless, he remains faithful-for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) The gospel passage of the day leads us to the shores of Tiberius. The disciples had witnessed the risen Christ, yet they went back to their old profession of fishing. We have seen in the gospels that when Jesus called these disciples, they left everything: their boats, nets, families, etc. When Jesus called and commissioned them as fishers of men, they were shocked. Now they are going back to the sea again as fishermen. They tried so hard in the night, yet they could not claim a good catch. It is not by chance, nor is there a scarcity of fish in the sea. It was a reminder to the disciples that they were not called to be successful in worldly terms, but called to be fruitful by relying on Jesus, who is the master of the universe and his grace. They were sinking in disappointment and gave up all their effort. That might be the reason they left the deep water, and their boat was found close to the shore when Jesus came there at dawn.
Their hearts were filled with the dark clouds of hopelessness. They thought that they could have a new beginning with an amazing catch. It was quite surprising that they could not recognise Jesus. It might still be dark, and more than that, they couldn’t wish or expect Jesus to come looking for them. Now they are sure of his divine identity. Therefore, such a person, would he be interested in a matter like this? Another matter of importance is that, in these moments of disappointment, an expert fisherman like Peter and company would be open to the instruction of the stranger? Why? Because they had tried all of their possible men and skills that they had acquired throughout their fishing career, they were open to anyone, even if they couldn’t get anything.
As per his instruction, they cast their net close to the shore. In normal terms, they could only get a great catch in deep water. Anyhow, they cast their nets close to the shore. They attempted this as a last recourse. However, it was a life-time catch for their careers. Like at the wedding feast at Cana, when servants did what Jesus told them, there was an abundance of wine. There’s an abundance of fish. At this juncture, John reorganised Jesus: “It is the Lord…” He realised that it was the Lord who made them understand that, apart from him, they could do nothing. The Lord, who worked a similar miracle three years ago, called them to follow him now, calling them back from their old profession to be fishers of men.
Peter’s reaction was noteworthy. He was not lost in the great catch; he left everything and did not even wait for others to get back to Jesus by swimming across the sea. It is true that his heart was so heavy with bitter feelings of having been denied him thrice publicly. When Jesus tells them to bring some fish, he himself is the entire net that he casts to the shore before him.
Jesus awaits on the shore, preparing the oven to make breakfast for them. He offers them bread and fish, which symbolises the Eucharist. The daily bread of each disciple is what nurtures them spiritually. Each time Jesus appears, he gives them the Eucharist, and their hearts are rekindled by his memory and love. Jesus gives yet another chance to Peter. Jesus could have rejected him much earlier. He was so fragile and wavering, not at all a good leader who failed to stand faithfully by his master and denounced him thrice publicly. It was Peter who went fishing again, and the others just followed him. That is, Peter gave up his identity as a disciple of Christ, but Jesu was not ready to abandon Peter. Jesus asks Peter: Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? (Jn.21:15) Asking three times the same question, Peter himself feels uneasy, and speaking from his heart, he says: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jn. 21:17) The Lord knew it, but the Lord wants his profession of faith to be remembered more than his denial. Each time Jesus commissions Peter to be a good shepherd like him, he forgets himself and feeds the sheep with his selfless love and care.
The Lord’s fidelity is invariable. Though we abandon him, he awaits us on the shore, which is filled with the darkness of uncertainties with his selfless love and tender care. He will feed us with his own body and blood to overcome our failures and to start again. He understands our fragility and helplessness, and like Peter, he mends our brokenness with his Eucharistic presence and allows us to have a fresh start relying on his grace.