Jn 21:119 or 21:114

Jesus shows Himself first to Mary Magdalene, and one of the instructions He gives her is to tell His disciples: “Go tell my disciples to go to Galilee, and there they will see me (Mt. 28:10).” Moving the setting to Galilee, the disciples, Peter, and six others went to the Sea of Tiberias as instructed. Not knowing anything except that they must wait there, Peter said to the group, I am going out to fish.

There is nothing wrong with Peter’s proposal; it’s probably the best they can do while waiting for the Lord, or it is simply the most natural step for them to be more comfortable catching fish than the commandment of Jesus to be fishers of men. But the Apostles would soon find out they are no longer the same fishermen they used to be; catching fish is no longer their task; God has a different mission for them to be fishers of men. The Apostles realized the futility of the effort to go back to fishing; it took a carpenter (Jesus) to advise them to throw their nets to the starboard side (the right side) to catch fish again. What is the difference? The two sides of the boat represent the two different ways we can live in this world; we can live according to the flesh or theSpirit. The whole night’s toil and the pile of net represent what we can accomplish with our efforts. The abundant catch; represents the ministry guided and led by the Spirit. Following our own will is wasting our time, but our mission is following and cooperating with God’s Will or His divine plan in faith, and Jesus blesses our ministry abundantly.

The Apostles have yet to understand their new vocation, their new mission. They do not know the great things the Lord has already prepared for them in this new mission. They are not to rely on their effort but completely trust God to lead and guide them. The problem with man is that our natural vision is so limited. As St. Paul says:“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

(1 Cor. 2:9) To see what is beyond the natural horizon, we need the eyes of faith to see what God intends to reveal through the Spirit.

When the eyes of faith are open, we see the futility of wasting our time going back to our former ways of pursuing our natural preferences. But instead, we focus on our new mission; and hopefully share the vision of John in Rev. 5, 12:Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise.I cannot imagine St. John the Evangelist; after seeing this glorious vision, having any desire to go back to fishing! In the same way, when our eyes are open in faith, there is no more dillydallying for us, the flesh will still have desires and fears, but the focus of the Spirit is on the praise, honor, and worship of God.

Finally, the Lord knows that it is not for lack of faith, hope, and love that Peter went back to fishing; knowing his heart; Peter feels unworthy to continue following Jesus, especially after denying Him three times. But Jesus mercifully and compassionately allows Peter to redeem himself after his three denials of the Lord by three renewed affirmations of love. Thereby also confirming Peter as a SHEPHERD and no longer a fisherman. The Lord Jesus believes that now Peter is ready - receiving the triple affirmation of his love moves Jesus to entrust the sheep to Peter, the flock He faithfully shepherded.

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