Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

Jesus was acting as a guide to his fisherman friends for the Disciples were in the dark therefore they did not recognize Jesus, but the eyes of the Disciple whom Jesus loved, were sharp, He understood before others the person on the shore was the Lord. When he pointed this out, Peter without hesitation leaped into the water for he wished to be the first to greet his Lord. The other six remained in the boat. When they came to shore, they saw fire, fish laid thereon, and some bread, which the compassionate Saviour had prepared for them. The Son of God was preparing a meal for His spiritual weather beaten fishermen; it must have reminded them of the bread and fishes Jesus had multiplied when He had announced Himself as the Bread of Life. After they dragged the fish filled net ashore and counted the fish they had caught, they no longer was doubt that it was the Lord.

The simplest explanation given by the fourth century biblical scholar Jerome, is that in the sea there are 153 different kinds of fishes; and that the catch is one which symbolizes the fact that someday all people of all nations will be gathered together to Jesus Christ. Further, this great catch of fishes was gathered into the one net, and the net was able to hold them all and was not broken. Even the nations will come in, the Church is big enough to hold them all. Here John is telling us in his own vivid yet subtle way of the universality of the Church.

Jesus we thank you for choosing us to be your disciples and giving us your mission mandate to make disciples of all nations. Help us to be in connect with you through prayer, seeking your will in everything we do.