Mary O’Byrne, O.P.
3rd Sunday of Easter – 4th May 2025
In this gospel John 21, 1-19, we are still in Resurrection mode and are listening eagerly to recitals of Resurrection appearances which figure in the Sunday liturgies subsequent to the great feast of Easter.
What is this Sunday’s gospel trying to convey? It contains at least three stories, first a Resurrection appearance proper, second a miraculous catch of fish and thirdly a call and prophecy for Peter. We consider one of them, the story of the restoration or healing of Peter.
At the outset, we look at the Resurrection scene which takes place beside the Lake of Galilee. In the city of Jerusalem Peter is finding himself at an uncertain stage in his life and takes the initiative. With six other disciples, he decides to return to Galilee to resume his former occupation as a fisherman with all its hazards and hardships. It is while the seven are at this work that our story of the healing of Peter takes place.
Night time in the gospels is best time for fishing. Darkness may be good for fishing, but is it good for Peter in his present state of mind? Darkness offers a person time to reflect and looking from the boat on to the countryside round about, Peter is surely reminded of the many journeys that he enjoyed with Jesus of Nazareth around this area some three short years before. He remembers his own personal call to follow Jesus and of course the huge catch of fish that accompanied it. Now the reality is so very different. What does it all signify? Meantime at the present moment, after a night’s work there are so few fish netted that returning home seems the only sensible option.
Dawn is breaking and the seven disciples are slowly making their way towards the shore when they spot a lone figure on the sands calling out to them and asking for fish. John recognises the voice and is nudging Peter telling him that the Lord is on the beach. On hearing this, Peter, without a moment’s hesitation, jumps into the water leaving the other disciples behind to look after whatever few fish they had caught. On recognising Jesus and hearing that he needs more fish, Peter immediately returns to the boat and helps to haul in the net which is by this time full of fish.
This enormous catch brings back to his mind his own personal call three years earlier, a call also accompanied by a miraculous draught of fish. He remembers it assuredly with pain since he cannot but sense keen remorse while taking his place with the six others around Jesus near to the charcoal fire. He had denied Christ three times beside a charcoal fire in Jerusalem only a few short weeks before. Even though he is eating in the presence of His Master, he still suffers inwardly from the sting of his denial and feels highly unworthy of being included among the Lord’s close friends.
After the early morning breakfast on the beach, Peter is utterly unprepared for the ensuing dialogue with Jesus in the presence of the other disciples. He answers the threefold question from Jesus “Do you love me?” with an awkward honesty which is evident from the text itself. Peter is clumsy and somewhat embarrassed as he sincerely assures Jesus of his love, even more so as Jesus gently encourages him in his answers. The threefold question eliciting a threefold affirmation of Peter’s love is directed at healing the earlier threefold denial.
Peter feels his confidence, his self-respect being restored. He can now gaze around at the countryside and happily recall memories of itinerant preaching with the Lord along the dusty roads of Galilee. He knows that the Lord has completely forgiven him the triple denial in Jerusalem. We cannot but rejoice with Peter as he gradually recovers his self-assurance and realises that he is totally and utterly pardoned.
Jesus then commends the care of the flock to him, in other words, giving him responsibility for the Church which will burgeon out and beyond Jerusalem. Peter, the first Pope, is ideally suited to give us hope as he later moves from fishing to shepherding the flock of the infant Church. Right now, his ears barely catch words of a prophecy from Jesus about the manner of his future death. Somehow it seems to matter little to him as he hears the voice of the Lord once more echoing his original call, “Follow me”. The realisation of the magnitude of his task unfolds itself slowly before him.
Like Peter, we too from time to time let ourselves down, betraying the mission given to us. Yet we see that in spite of the denial, Jesus wants Peter to be shepherd of his flock and gives him the confidence for that mission. Let us too have assurance in the Lord’s pardon for our shortcomings and move forward trusting in His boundless and infinite mercy. The Lord will give us the strength to carry out the mission He gave us at our baptismal calling.