{"id":5642,"date":"2025-05-04T10:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T09:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5642"},"modified":"2025-05-06T14:02:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T13:02:36","slug":"commentary-on-3rd-sunday-of-easter-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-3rd-sunday-of-easter-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 3rd Sunday of Easter C 4.05.2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEXT \u2013 John 21_ 1-19 \u2013 Final packed chapter of John\u2019s Gospel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jesus Reveals himself<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe\u2019ri\u2013as; and he revealed himself in this way.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apostles go Fishing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the \nTwin, Nathan\u2019a\u2013el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb\u2019edee, and two \nothers of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, \u201cI am\n going fishing.\u201d They said to him, \u201cWe will go with you.\u201d They went out \nand got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019 Fishing Instructions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus \nstood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 \nJesus said to them, \u201cChildren, have you any fish?\u201d They answered him, \n\u201cNo.\u201d 6 He said to them, \u201cCast the net on the right side of the boat, \nand you will find some.\u201d So they cast it, and now they were not able to \nhaul it in, for the quantity of fish.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is the Lord\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved \nsaid to Peter, \u201cIt is the Lord!\u201d When Simon Peter heard that it was the \nLord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang \ninto the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the \nnet full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a \nhundred yards off.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meal with Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 When they got out on land, they \nsaw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus \nsaid to them, \u201cBring some of the fish that you have just caught.\u201d 11 So \nSimon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a\n hundred and fifty\u2013three of them; and although there were so many, the \nnet was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, \u201cCome and have breakfast.\u201d Now \nnone of the disciples dared ask him, \u201cWho are you?\u201d They knew it was the\n Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with\n the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the\n disciples after he was raised from the dead.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon Peter Commissioned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

15 When they had finished breakfast,\n Jesus said to Simon Peter, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love me more \nthan these?\u201d He said to him, \u201cYes, Lord; you know that I love you.\u201d He \nsaid to him, \u201cFeed my lambs.\u201d 16 A second time he said to him, \u201cSimon, \nson of John, do you love me?\u201d He said to him, \u201cYes, Lord; you know that I\n love you.\u201d He said to him, \u201cTend my sheep.\u201d 17 He said to him the third\n time, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love me?\u201d Peter was grieved because \nhe said to him the third time, \u201cDo you love me?\u201d And he said to him, \n\u201cLord, you know everything; you know that I love you.\u201d Jesus said to \nhim, \u201cFeed my sheep.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter\u2019s Martyrdom Prophesied<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when \nyou were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when\n you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you\n and carry you where you do not wish to go.\u201d 19 (This he said to show by\n what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, \n\u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Implied Death of Beloved Disciple<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

20 Peter turned and saw following \nthem the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at \nthe supper and had said, \u201cLord, who is it that is going to betray you?\u201d <\/em>21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, \u201cLord, what about this man?\u201d <\/em>22 Jesus said to him, \u201cIf it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!\u201d <\/em>23 The\n saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to \ndie; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, \u201cIf it is\n my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion to Gospel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

24 This is the disciple who is \nbearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and \nwe know that his testimony is true. <\/em>25 But there are also many \nother things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I \nsuppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be \nwritten. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe\u2019ri\u2013as; and he revealed himself in this way <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe\u2019ri\u2013as; and he revealed himself in this way<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 The Sea of Galilee, the Lake of Genneseret and the Sea of Tiberias \nare three names for the same stretch of water. Herod Antipas founded a \ncity called Tiberias after the emperor and subsequently the Sea of \nGalilee was often called the Sea of Tiberias (Jn. 6: 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 \u201cSimon Peter, Thomas \ncalled the Twin, Nathan\u2019a\u2013el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb\u2019edee, \nand two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to \nthem, \u2018I am going fishing.\u2019 They said to him, \u2018We will go with you.\u2019 \nThey went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught \nnothing.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSimon Peter, Thomas called the \nTwin, Nathan\u2019a\u2013el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb\u2019edee, and two \nothers of his disciples were together<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Only seven disciples are mentioned, five being named. Thomas has already been referred to as \u201cthe Twin<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 20: 24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNathaniel<\/em>\u201d does not appear in \nany list of apostles. He is sometimes identified as Bartholomew or \nMatthias in early writings. He was one of the first disciples (Jn. 1: \n45\u201350).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James and John were the two \u201csons of Zebedee\u201d<\/em>. Why the \u201ctwo others<\/em>\u201d are not named is not explained. One was the Beloved Disciple if he was not John, son of Zebedee (see verse 7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSimon Peter said to them, \u2018I am \ngoing fishing\u2019 They said to him, \u2018We will go with you.\u2019 They went out \nand got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Simon Peter appears as the leader and the others are willing to follow him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fishermen have returned to their calling of catching fish and they were not successful. Fishing was done mostly at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 Just as day was breaking, \nJesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was \nJesus. 5 Jesus said to them, \u201cChildren, have you any fish?\u201d They \nanswered him, \u201cNo.\u201d 6 He said to them, \u201cCast the net on the right side \nof the boat, and you will find some.\u201d So they cast it, and now they were\n not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The opening words of this verse imply the resurrection: \u201cjust as day was breaking<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The disciples may not have looked too \ncarefully at the stranger on the shore or they may have been impeded by \nthe lingering darkness. It is strange that they did not recognise \u201cthe Lord<\/em>\u201d as this was his third appearance to them (Jn. 21:14). The other two appearances were recorded in Jn. 20: 1\u201319.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus said to them, \u2018Children<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The author of this chapter is a disciple of the beloved disciple. Followers of his referred to themselves as \u201cchildren<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201chave you any fish?\u2019 They answered \nhim, \u2018No.\u2019 He said to them, \u2018Cast the net on the right side of the boat,\n and you will find some<\/em>\u2019 \u2014 The \u201cright side of the boat<\/em>\u201d \nwas regarded as the lucky side. In addition, there was always the \npossibility of a person on shore seeing a school of fish that those in \nthe boat might not see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 Unexpected and unnaturally large quantities of various items are \nfrequently referred to in John\u2019 Gospel (Jn. 2: 6 [wine]; 3: 34 [Spirit];\n 4: 14 [water]; 6: 11 [loaves]; 7: 37+ [water]; 10: 10 [life]).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The abundance of fish here is so great that the disciples cannot haul them into but had to drag them after the boat (v. 8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, \u201cIt is the Lord!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat disciple whom Jesus loved<\/em>\u201d \u2014 For the \u201cdisciple whom Jesus loved<\/em>\u201d see Jn. 1: 35\u201342; 13: 23; 18: 25; 19: 26; 20: 2; 21: 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201csaid to Peter, \u2018It is the Lord!<\/em>\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 For the second time the Beloved Disciple is the first to perceive the\n Lord (Jn. 20: 8). He may have come to this conclusion because of the \nsign or miracle of the catch of fish. It is unlikely that he recognised \nhis voice like Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20: 16) as there would have been a \ntime lapse between hearing the voice and catching the fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He informs Peter because Peter was their appointed head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Simon Peter heard that \nit was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, \nand sprang into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, \ndragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but \nabout a hundred yards off.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 The Jewish people had a very strict dress code and Simon Peter would \nnot appear before the Lord without proper attire. When \u201che sprang into the sea<\/em>\u201d the water was shallow; otherwise he would have soaked his clothing and defeated the purpose of dressing properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This scene gives us the distinctive \nroles of the beloved disciple and Peter. The former is the first to \nperceive the Lord; Peter is the first to act on this information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the other disciples came in the\n boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the \nland, but about a hundred yards off<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Greek reads \u201ctwo hundred cubits\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 When they got out on land,\n they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 \nJesus said to them, \u201cBring some of the fish that you have just caught.\u201d \n11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large \nfish, a hundred and fifty\u2013three of them; and although there were so \nmany, the net was not torn.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The \u201ccharcoal fire<\/em>\u201d\n recalls two occurrences in the Bible. First, it reminds the readers of \nthe charcoal fire in the courtyard where Simon Peter denied he knew \nJesus (Jn. 18: 18). Now he will affirm his love by another charcoal fire\n which connects the two assertions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second it recalls Isaiah 6: 1\u20138 which \ntells of the call of the prophet who saw the Lord sitting on his throne \nin the sanctuary. He acknowledged his sinfulness (As did Peter in Lk. 5:\n 1\u201311). The angel touched Isaiah\u2019s lips and purified them with a burning\n coal from the fire before the altar. The word for \u2018burning coal\u2019 or \ncharcoal was used for the Eucharist in the early Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cwith fish lying on it, and bread<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 \u201cChrist prepares the fish laid over the coals, which is Christ \nhimself: for the cooking fish spread out over the hot coals is the \nsuffering Christ who is spread over the hot coals when because of the \nfire of his love for us he is immolated on the cross.\u201d (St. Thomas, \nCommentary on Luke 21, 2599).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The verse does not say that the \u201cbread<\/em>\u201d was being fried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a clear reminder of the multiplication of the loaves and fish (Jn. 6: 9) and of the Eucharist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This scene shows that Jesus can feed his\n disciples without their help. This contrasts with the disciples who \ncould not catch fish without his help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cJesus said to them, \u201cBring some of the fish that you have just caught<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 The meal is already prepared and there was no need for more fish. \nAccording to St. Thomas \u201cthe ministers of the Church should also bring \nsomething to this meal; but whatever it is, it has come from God\u201d. Later\n he explains, \u201cour Lord asks us to \u2018bring the fish<\/em>\u2019, bring your good works, which have been granted to you to accomplish\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 The primacy of Peter is asserted. It had already been promised (Jn. \n1: 42). It would not be confirmed until after the resurrection (Jn. 21: \n15\u201317).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cfull of large fish, a hundred and fifty\u2013three of them<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 There are many theories about the meaning of the number 153 but \nnothing is definite. What is clear is that it is a symbol of a great \nnumber of people the disciples will \u2018catch\u2019 when they obey Jesus in \nbeing \u201cfishers of men\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand although there were so many, the net was not torn<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 In Luke\u2019s account of the very large catch of fish, there are several \nnets and they were tearing with the number of fish (Lk. 5: 4. 5. 6). \nHere there is but a single net and it does not tear. This \u201cnet<\/em>\u201d\n symbolises the Church which does not come apart but is strong in unity \nwhich is brought about by Jesus, (mixing metaphors) the Shepherd of the \u201cone flock<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 10: 16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ezekiel the prophet writes of the \nabundance of water that will flow from the Temple and the large variety \nof fish that will be caught by the fishermen, \u201cThen he brought me \nback to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below \nthe threshold of the temple toward the east \u2026 Wherever the river goes, \nthere will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will \nbecome fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. People will\n stand fishing beside the sea from En\u2013gedi to En\u2013eglaim; it will be a \nplace for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds,\n like the fish of the Great Sea<\/em>\u201d. (Ezek 47: 1\u201310). There are \nobvious references to Jesus the Temple, the profusion of water that \nflowed from his side, the fishermen and the \u201cgreat many kinds of fish<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12 Jesus said to them, \u201cCome\n and have breakfast.\u201d Now none of the disciples dared ask him, \u201cWho are \nyou?\u201d They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and \ngave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time \nthat Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the \ndead.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus said to them, \u201cCome and have breakfast<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Risen Lord invites the disciples to his heavenly banquet, the Eucharist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now none of the disciples dared ask him, \u201cWho are you?\u201d They knew it was the Lord<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 There was no need to ask him when it was obvious who he was from the \ncatch of fish and being close to him in the better light. During his \nlife his divinity had been hidden, but not now. They needed a sign which\n they recognise as pointing to something greater, the risen Jesus. They \nwere developing in faith: \u201cIt was the Lord<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish<\/em>\u201d \u2014 He is recognised at a meal, the Eucharist. As our faith develops it is here that we too will recognise him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The other two times when Jesus appeared to the disciples were in the Upper Room (Jn. 20: 19\u201331).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we consider the order and purpose of\n these appearances, it is evident that the first showed Christ\u2019s divine \nauthority by his breathing the Holy Spirit upon them; the second showed \nthat he was the same person as before, since he let them view his \nwounds; and the third showed the reality of his risen human nature, for \nhe ate with them.\u201d (St. Thomas, Commentary on John 21, 2569).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15 When they had finished \nbreakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love \nme more than these?\u201d He said to him, \u201cYes, Lord; you know that I love \nyou.\u201d He said to him, \u201cFeed my lambs.\u201d 16 A second time he said to him, \n\u201cSimon, son of John, do you love me?\u201d He said to him, \u201cYes, Lord; you \nknow that I love you.\u201d He said to him, \u201cTend my sheep.\u201d 17 He said to \nhim the third time, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love me?\u201d Peter was \ngrieved because he said to him the third time, \u201cDo you love me?\u201d And he \nsaid to him, \u201cLord, you know everything; you know that I love you.\u201d \nJesus said to him, \u201cFeed my sheep.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen they had finished breakfast<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The meal, symbolising the Eucharist (loaves and fish) is now complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus said to Simon Peter, \u201cSimon, son of John<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus addresses him by his original name, \u201cSimon, son of John<\/em>\u201d his family name used before Jesus had given him the title \u201cPeter<\/em>\u201d meaning \u201cRock<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you love me more than these? He <\/em>[Peter] said to him, \u2018Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Simon Peter had been most confident in his own powers and according to Mark (14: 28) said \u201cEven if all lose faith, I will not<\/em>\u201d. John recorded him as saying, \u201cI will lay down my life for you<\/em>\u201d.\n (Jn. 13: 37). Now he is humbled and does not boast but asserts that he \ndoes love Jesus. He does not use the word Jesus used, \u2018agape<\/em>\u2019 meaning Christian love, but the word for friendship, for \u201ccaring\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe <\/em>[Jesus] said to him, \u2018Feed my lambs<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus states that \u201cthe lambs<\/em>\u201d belong to him: \u201cmy lambs<\/em>\u201d. Later he will say \u201cmy sheep<\/em>\u201d. While he is giving responsibility to Peter for the flock he is not giving him the flock; the flock remains Jesus\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA second time he said to him, \n\u2018Simon, son of John, do you love me?\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Yes, Lord; you \nknow that I love you.\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Tend my sheep<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Once again the two words for \u201clove<\/em>\u201d are different, Jesus using \u201cagape<\/em>\u201d and Simon using \u201ccaring<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To tend the sheep includes providing all\n that they need, more than mere feeding or pasturing. It includes \nleading the sheep to safety in their compound at night, defending the \nsheep from thieves and wolves, seeking the stray and lost, keeping the \nunity of the flock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe said to him the third time, \n\u201cSimon, son of John, do you love me?\u201d Peter was grieved because he said \nto him the third time, \u201cDo you love me?\u201d And he said to him, \u201cLord, you \nknow everything; you know that I love you.\u201d Jesus said to him, \u201cFeed my \nsheep<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus does not use the word \u201cagape<\/em>\u201d for love in this third question but he uses the word Simon had used and asks \u2018Do you really care for me<\/em>\u2019. The author attributes this reply to \u201cPeter<\/em>\u201d, not \u201cSimon\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus looks for a three\u2013fold profession \nof love from Simon Peter to correspond to the three\u2013fold denial that \nPeter ever knew him when approached by the people in the courtyard of \nthe trial (Jn. 18: 17, 25\u201327).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18 Truly, truly, I say to \nyou, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you \nwould; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and \nanother will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.\u201d 19 \n(This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after \nthis he said to him, \u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTruly, truly, I say to you<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is a solemn introduction to a very important statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cwhen you were young, you girded \nyourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will \nstretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where \nyou do not wish to go<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 This was a Jewish proverb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c(This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, \u2018Follow me.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Peter had offered to go to prison and death with Jesus (Jn. 13: 36\u201338). That is now confirmed. \u201cAfter this<\/em>\u201d\n prophecy of his manner of death, Peter is to follow Jesus the Shepherd \nin everything, even his violent death (Jn. 10: 11). Peter was crucified \nin 64 A.D., decades before this Gospel was written towards the end of \nthe first century, if not a decade prior to that, certainly not \nafterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is only now at the end of this Gospel\n that Jesus invites Peter to follow him. Other evangelists report the \ncall at the beginning of Jesus\u2019 public ministry. The author has Simon \nPeter\u2019s call postponed because Peter had not fully understood the \nimplications. He was inclined to be impetuous, hasty, rush into \ndecisions and he trusted in himself too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: \nJohn\u2019s Gospel ended with Chapter 20 and this additional chapter, \nfrequently referred to as an Appendix, was written by one or more of his\n disciples. That is a technical point but there is no doubt that no \nmatter who wrote the chapter it is an official part of the inspired word\n of God accepted by all Christian groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus<\/strong>   As is customary in this section, our first reflection and application is about Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(i)        In the opening scene we see \nthe disciples worn out after a night\u2019s unsuccessful fishing; they caught\n nothing. They are tired, hungry and, no doubt, disappointed or \ndepressed. They were probably not thinking of Jesus, just themselves. He\n finds them and does two things to boost their morale. He tells them \nwhere to catch a huge shoal of fish. He invites them to breakfast which \nhe has prepared. In both matters he shows his personal concern for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(ii)       He holds a quiet talk with \nPeter. He does not rebuke, tell him off or demand an apology for his \ntriple denials. He does not even mention them. He makes it possible for \nPeter to affirm his love and loyalty. And he confirms him as \u201cPeter\u201d, \nthe Rock on which he builds his Church. An example of even more \nconsideration for Peter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(iii)      Finally, he commissions Peter to take up the Lord\u2019s own work as one who tends the sheep (see John 10<\/a>\n on the Good Shepherd). Peter, fed by Jesus on the shore, is told to \n\u201cfeed my sheep.\u201d Jesus shows his love and care for succeeding \ngenerations of disciples (us!) in providing for their care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter   <\/strong>The focus in \ntoday\u2019s Gospel Reading is on Peter who is central to each of the six \nscenes of the chapter: the fishing scene, the breakfast scene, the \nreconciliation scene, the installation scene, the prophecy of martyrdom \nscene and the instruction to follow Jesus. He is shown as the primary \nwitness of the resurrection, a missionary, the shepherd of the flock, a \nmartyr and in relationship to the Beloved Disciple to whom Jesus had \ncommitted his mother (See 19: 26\u201327)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primacy was given to Peter directly \nand immediately. So the Church has always understood \u2014 and so Vatican I \ndefined: \u201cWe therefore teach and declare that, according to the \ntestimony of the Gospel, the primacy of jurisdiction over the universal \nChurch of God was immediately and directly promised and given to Blessed\n Peter the Apostle by Christ our Lord. \u2026 And it was upon Simon Peter \nalone that Jesus after His resurrection bestowed the jurisdiction of \nchief pastor and ruler over all His fold in the words: \u201cFeed My lambs; \nfeed My sheep\u201d (Vatican Council I, \u201cPastor Aeternus<\/em>\u201d, Chapter 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primacy is a grace conferred on \nPeter and his successors, the popes; it is one of the basic elements in \nthe Church, designed to guard and protect its unity: \u201cIn order that the \nepiscopate also might be one and undivided, and that [\u2026] the multitude \nof the faithful might be kept secure in the oneness of faith and \ncommunion, He set Blessed Peter over the rest of the Apostles, and fixed\n in him the abiding principle of this twofold unity, and its visible \nfoundation\u201d (\u201cPastor Aeternus\u201d; cf. Vatican II, \u201cLumen Gentium\u201d, 18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the primacy of Peter is \nperpetuated in each of his successors: this is something which Christ \ndisposed; it is not based on human legislation or custom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus instructed Simon Peter to \nfeed his lambs and tend his sheep (Jn. 21: 15-17) he passed to Peter his\n own role of shepherd (Jn, 10: 1\u201328). Simon was not chosen to be \u201cPeter<\/em>\u201d\n because of his special merits or because he was strong or the best \nqualified. Jesus chose a man whose qualifications were listed throughout\n the Gospels as weak. I am sure that no present\u2013day board of directors \nwould appoint a Chief Executive Officer to head a large corporation if \nhe had qualities such as Simon had! \u201cPeter<\/em>\u201d must always \nremember that the flock is not \u201chis flock\u201d but the flock of Jesus. \nPeter\u2019s duty is to know the mind of Jesus. His main qualification in the\n eyes of Jesus is that he loves him. This is what we must expect from \u201cPeter<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon was called to be \u201cPeter<\/em>\u201d.\n He failed. He repented and was reconciled. He was re\u2013called. His love \nwas tested and he was given the promise of dying like the Lamb led to \nthe slaughter. Now he knows that he must trust the Shepherd who will \nnourish him and protect him, even in death.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2013 John 21_ 1-19 \u2013 Final packed chapter of John\u2019s Gospel Jesus Reveals himself 1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe\u2019ri\u2013as; and he revealed himself in this way. Apostles go Fishing 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan\u2019a\u2013el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3479,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5642"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8375,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5642\/revisions\/8375"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}