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 find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
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 fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
I always find this phrase “The disciple whom Jesus loved” to be peculiar. This individual is singled out time and time again but only in the gospel of John. That aside, today’s reading is the third time Jesus reveals himself to the disciples. He does it by repeating the miracle where he fills their net and they recognise him in the breaking of the bread. Once again it leaves me thinking that Jesus walks among us and we miss it unless we know the signs. Is it miracles and breaking of bread alone? Is it the existence of virtues such as prudence, fortitude, faith, hope, charity and temperance? Where there is love there is God… Perhaps it is as simple as that.
ReplyDeleteYour response to John 21:1-14 is insightful! Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
Delete"The Disciple Jesus Loved" You rightly observe the unique way John's Gospel refers to a specific disciple. This adds a layer of mystery and intimacy to the narrative.
Repeated Revelation You connect the significance of Jesus appearing multiple times to the disciples, emphasizing the importance of recognizing his presence.
Signs vs. Recognizing Jesus You raise an important question: How do we recognize Jesus' presence in our lives? You propose that it might not be limited to miracles but could be through internal signs like an emphasis on virtues and love.
Here are some additional thoughts for consideration:
Symbolic Interpretations: Some scholars interpret the "breaking of bread" scene symbolically, connecting it to the Eucharist (communion) and Jesus' ongoing presence through this practice.
Openness and Recognition: Recognizing Jesus' presence might involve a combination of factors, including openness to the divine, living a virtuous life, and a sense of love and compassion.
Overall, your response offers a thoughtful interpretation that goes beyond a literal reading. You connect the passage to the broader question of recognizing the divine in our daily lives.