Third Sunday of Easter

Second miraculous catch of fish

            Peter said: “I am going fishing.” The other apostles agreed: “We are going with you.” That night they caught nothing. It was a good idea to have a break, make a bit of money and get some food, but they spent the whole night casting the net and all they caught was an old boot and a broken amphora. Last time they went fishing was the first miraculous catch of fish. They thought they could pull it off again. They started with a lot of enthusiasm, but as the hours went by, the conversation died down, and tiredness crept in. At dawn they were going back home empty handed.

            There was a man on the shore waiting for them. They couldn’t see him well because the sun was rising behind him. Out of the blue he asked them if they had caught anything to eat. It is the worst question to ask a fisherman. They answered clenching their teeth: “No!” It is the same question he is asking us now: Have you caught any man? Are you bringing me souls? When Jesus called the apostles to follow him, he told them that they were going to catch men.

            The man on the shore told them to drop the net on the right hand side of the boat. They did it, once more, out of custom, without the energy to contradict him, or to proof him wrong once they got to the beach. Who was he to teach lessons to professional fishermen? The net began to fill up and to pull the boat down. They couldn’t haul it in; there were too many fish. While everybody was trying to pull up the net, John looked at the man on the beach, with his dark eyes, staring at him, trying to figure him out. Who is he? There was something familiar in that man. He murmured to Peter: “It is the Lord!” John was the first one to discover him with his clean eyes and pure heart. Saint Josemaria says that “love is fair sighted.” Loving eyes can see and recognize loved ones from a distance.

            When Peter heard that it was Jesus, he jumped into the water, straight away, without thinking what he was doing. He was always so prompt, so direct, predictable. Why didn’t he wait till they reached the shore with the boat? It was only few metres away. He didn’t need to get wet and splash all over the place. But he wanted to be first, specially after his denial. His sorrow couldn’t wait. He needed to have a quiet word with Jesus alone.

            When they arrived at the beach, Jesus already had a good fire going. He knew that they were cold, tired and hungry. Peter was also wet. They sat by the warmth of the coals and they cooked the natural fresh fish, that melted like butter in their mouths. Nothing can beat fish just caught, still kicking. He also had some hot bread to dip in the fish sauce. The Gospel doesn’t say it, but Jesus had brought some dry white wine, to wash down the food. Nobody said anything, because they were busy munching the fish, their mouth full of food. They had a hundred and fifty three fishes to go through, and they were all big ones. Divided by eight, it took nineteen each. Before Jesus talked to them, he made sure their bodies were warm and fed. After the whole night fishing, now they felt ready for a siesta. Jesus does the same with us. First he looks after our bodies and when we are ready, feeds our souls. But we need to obey him: throw the net on the right hand side of our boat.

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