The Sea of Galilee. Photo: CNS At the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, St Luke bridges the gap between the mission of Jesus and the mission of the Church founded on the apostles. “He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for 40 days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). We are not given an account of all these appearances, but the encounters which are described follow a certain pattern. The people soon to encounter the Risen Lord are in a dark place. The Lord comes among them but, at first, they do not recognise him by the ordinary means of sight or sound of voice. Then the Lord says or does something which activates their faith into recognising the divine presence. The key to interpreting each encounter lies in the sign the Lord gave them to reveal his identity. For instance, Mary Magdalen did not recognise him by sight or even by hearing his voice. It is when he calls her by name that she makes recognition. We come to know the Lord when we recognise a personal call to a strong relationship with God.
“I have called you by your name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had lost hope and direction. Even when the Lord joined them and explained the Scriptures for them, they still did not recognise him until he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and gave it to them. These actions repeat what the Lord did at the institution of the Blessed Eucharist at the last supper. Their eyes were opened and they recognised him.
Christ’s mission
The Gospel for today (John 21: 1-19) describes the miraculous catch of fish which was a sign of the expansive mission of the Church which would be founded on the apostles at the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The scene has changed from the claustrophobia of the locked doors in the room in Jerusalem to the open air by the Sea of Galilee. Seven of the disciples had gone back fishing. In John’s Gospel, seven is a number always linked with the divine presence. Among the seven were Peter and the sons of Zebedee who had witnessed the earlier miraculous catch of fish at the beginning of the mission of Jesus. Jesus then called them, “Follow me and I will make you into fishers of people.” Now they had gone back to their former occupation as if they still did not appreciate the mission to which they were being called. Although they were experienced fishermen, labouring on their own they caught nothing.
“It was light by now”, indicating the new day of re-created humanity. But the eyes of the disciples still laboured under the dark of night and they failed to recognise the presence of Jesus on the shore. Even his voice they did not recognise when he instructed them on where to cast their nets. It is when they see the huge catch of fish that the Beloved disciple exclaims, “It is the Lord!”
In the mission of the future Church, acting on their own would be in the dark and unproductive. But when the word of God directs human effort, the mission of the Church is full of divine power.
One hundred and fifty-three fish, we are told. Commentaries have suggested several interpretations of this number. The most likely is the suggestion of St Jerome that it is the number of species of fish known at that time, indicating that the mission of the Church would be to all nations. The net was not torn, a sign of unity in a community of diverse nations and cultures.
On the shore Jesus has prepared a breakfast of bread and fish for them. This menu recalls Chapter Six of John’s Gospel which begins with the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and develops into the promise of the Eucharist, “I am the bread of life which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread shall live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
Peter’s role
Both miracles of fish took place by the Sea of Tiberias, given this name in honour of Tiberius, the Roman Emperor. All other Gospel references to this place call it the Sea of Galilee. Why does this Gospel give the Roman name to the lake? It is likely that the evangelist wanted to link this episode with the role of Peter in the mission of the Church. By settling in Rome, Peter made it the geographical centre of the missionary Church and there he was led to martyrdom. At the end of today’s Gospel Jesus indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God.
Peter, warming his hands by a charcoal fire had three times denied any acquaintance with Jesus. Seeing Jesus on the shore cooking by a charcoal fire must have startled Peter. Three times he had denied Jesus, but three times the merciful Lord invited him to express how the depth of his love far surpassed his failures in the moments of threat to his life. “Lord, you know that I love you.” He is then appointed the shepherd of the flock. “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.”
The whole story is a great meditation on the presence of the Risen Lord in the mission of the Church, in human effort directed by the word of the Lord, in the mission to all nations, nurtured by the Eucharistic presence of the Lord as the bread of life, and following the leadership of Peter who was appointed to feed the flock.
Prayer
O Lord, we can relate to the aching muscles and empty nets, the tiredness of frustrating work, the disappointment of labouring in the dark.
You stand on the shore unrecognised, a stranger calling to us. Even when you speak, we do not recognise your voice.
Risen Lord, may the memory of this story strengthen our faith to see that you are always present, even though hidden in the morning mist.
May we hear your word, take it to heart and translate it into action.
May we ever rejoice to accept your invitation to the sacred meal you provide for us.
May we experience the thrill of excitement in recognising your presence.
It is the Lord!
Fr Silvester O’Flynn’s book, Gospel, Reflections and Prayers is available at Columba Books.