THE WORD
FIRST READING: Ac 5,27-32.40-41
When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in thatname. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.”
After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
SECOND READING: Rev 5,11-14
I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”
The four living creatures answered, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
GOSPEL: Jn 21,1-14
After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will fi nd something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fi sh.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon
Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fi sh. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
IN OTHER WORDS
Once there was a young fisherman who fell in love with a mermaid. “Take me for thy bridegroom,” said the fisherman. “You have a human soul,” the mermaid answered. “If only you would send away your soul, then I could love you.”
The fisherman sent away his soul, married the mermaid and lived with her at the bottom of the sea. However, the soul kept on persuading the fisherman to take him back into himself. When finally the fisherman gave in to the soul’s persuasion, it was too late. The soul which he sent out into the world had become evil (from “The Fisherman and His Soul” by Oscar Wilde).
The fishermen who turned into “fishers of men” when called by Jesus had sent their “soul” away to follow Jesus. They literally left everything behind—their parents, families, livelihood, way of life.
The Gospel reading today seems to show that these men have returned to their old “souls.” We hear them fishing in the Sea of Tiberias. After Jesus’ Resurrection, the disciples were not sure of this event. Doubt clouded their avowed faith in Jesus. Earlier, we read the story of the “doubting” Thomas.
In any case, the Risen Jesus’ appearance to the disciples who now have returned to their old occupation as fishermen may give us some lessons. Notice that the secret of successful fishing is neither the “I” in Simon Peter’s announcement, “I am going fishing” nor the “we” in the disciples’ “We will also come with you” but the “Lord” in the Beloved Disciple’s “It is the Lord.” To be a neo-evangelizer entails, yes, human eff ort and initiative but ultimately the gift or charism from the Risen Lord. In this Gospel story, it is the Risen Lord who tells when, where and how to sh; who prepares and blesses the meal. What is important is to realize that indeed “It is the Lord!” It is a good reminder that in our desire to share the Good News, the selfish “I” must not be at the forefront but like the “soul” in the above story, it must be sent away. Jesus once said in the same Gospel of John: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).
In the movie Son of God (2014), Jesus and Peter are alone. Jesus takes the initiative. He comes to Peter, insists that he rides on the boat and they go fishing. Peter complains: “There is no fish out here.” Jesus answers: “Peter, just give me an hour and I will give you a whole new life.” After the miraculous catch of fish, Jesus says: “Peter, come with me. Give up catching sh and I will make you the fisher of men.” Peter asks, “What are we gonna do?” Looking intently into Peter’s eyes, Jesus answers: “Change the world.”
- Fr. Randy Flores, SVD | DWST, Tagaytay City
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
