Today’s
Gospel Text: After this Jesus revealed
himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed
himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the
Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of
his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them,
"I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with
you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught
nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus
stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them,
"Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the
net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast
it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved
said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was
the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into
the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in
the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land,
but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they
saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring
some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and
hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them;
and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come
and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who
are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread
and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time
that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished
breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me
more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love
you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes,
Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my
sheep." 17 He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he
said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him,
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to
him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you,
when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when
you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and
carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what
death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow
me." John 21:1-19
Reflection: One
is often confused with the Christian concept of a Trinitarian God; 3 persons
but one nature.
A
concept that has been difficult to comprehend by many a Christians and the word "mystery" further compounds the situation and one begins to look at it as a
mystery that will always remain a mystery and not as a mystery which is open to
exploration in the true wisdom of God.
This
mystery of God is already revealed in Christ Jesus and can be comprehended much
by our human senses, enough to help us in the way of our salvation.
Nature
which carries the signature of God, gives us much insight into the mystery of
the Trinitarian nature of God because God has left his mark in creation.
Hence,
from the largest object, the sun, to the smallest atom there exists a
Trinitarian model.
Even
human beings carry the Trinitarian truth in their whole being, which consists
of Body, Soul and Spirit.
No
wonder St. Paul, the greatest intellectual we know of had this to say:
“For the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by
their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has
shown it to them.” Rom
1:18-19
In the post resurrection we see much more of the revelation of the
Trinitarian nature of God; whom Jesus reveals as the supreme Father to his
dedicated disciples, who are also his friends.
One such place where we can implicitly arrive at the triune,
unified and inseparable nature of God is in the above gospel passage when Jesus
addresses his friends and dedicated disciples, in a never before term, as children: "Children, have you any fish?" (vs. 5b)
So too Isaiah
prophesies about him thus: “…. and his name will be
called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace." Isa 9:6
Prayer: Everlasting
Father, help us to enter into the depth of your mystery so that we may ever
grow through knowing the depth of your love for us.
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
-Fr. Conrad Saldanha
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