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Today's gospel affords a glimpse into the life of the apostles during
the in-between time, after Jesus’ Resurrection and before his Ascension.
Just a few days before that Peter and the other apostles had witnessed
the Risen Lord. Still, they were depressed and feeling very much alone.
Peter breaks the ice by announcing that he is going back to fishing. At
his suggestion the others joined him. When we are stressed out and
depressed we want things to go back to the way they were. All night long
they catch nothing. Our lives are never the same once we meet the Lord.
When the Lord appeared on the shore just after dawn, he told them to
cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Remember when Jesus
first met Peter and the sons of Zebedee, he told them the same thing and
they made their first miraculous catch? John remembered and he told
Peter, "It's the Lord!" Totally in character, Peter threw on his
clothes, leapt into the water and swam to the Lord. By the time Peter
and the others arrived at the shore Jesus had already prepared a fire
and was cooking some fish. "Come and eat your meal," Jesus told them.
Even after the Passion and Resurrection Jesus is first and foremost the
one who ministers and cares for others. After the meal, the real
healing began. Jesus looked at Peter, standing next to the fire, and
asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Three
times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. Finally, Peter was brought to
tears, the healing had begun. Just as Peter denied the Lord three times
by a fire, Jesus gave him three opportunities to affirm his love and
desire to follow the Lord. There will be no more fishing for Peter. From
now on he will truly be a fisher of men.
Every one of us disciples will go through what Peter and the others went
through. In spite of all the wonders worked in our lives by the Lord, we
will fail again. In moments of personal weakness we may deny him. In his
infinite mercy he offers us his healing and reconciliation. To be a
disciple of Jesus Christ requires that we love him. To love him means to
tend his sheep.
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