The miraculous catch of fish

John 21:1-19

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish New International Version (NIV)

3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

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The Resurrection Appearances

I am going fishing. Try to get the context of these words.

The Resurrection appearances totally confused Peter. He doesn’t know what to think. Jesus died. Jesus is alive again, and has appeared even to him.

So to find some peace, he decides to do what he does best, to go fishing. The other disciples decide to go with him. They are back where they were when they first met Jesus.

So they fish all night, and catch nothing. In the morning Jesus appears on the shore and calls out to them, to fish on the other side of the boat.

They seem to catch everything for their nets are torn.

Then they catch up with Jesus on the beach and share a meal with him. He breaks bread and the fish with them.

The Resurrection appearances of Jesus are showing the disciples where they will find him in the future. The places become clear in the gospel story.

They will find him in the workplace. He will be present there.

They will find him in their gatherings, as they break bread together. They will find him in their celebrations. And as the story of doubting Thomas shows us, they will find him in their doubts and in their searching for the truth. They will also find him in places of pain and sorrow. Thomas touches his hands and his side.

He is saying to them that you will find me where ever you are. And he is also saying to them that if you live under my guidance you will find an abundance of life and a passion for life. In places where they found nothing, like fishing, under his direction they find they have too much to cope with.

In fact he is saying that there is no place that you can journey where you will not find me present to you.

Yes, you will find the resurrection presence in your lock-down home.

The Prayer
Risen Lord, in your earthly life
you surprised people with your creative energy to love them
you showed them new ways to live
you invited them to break out of the narrow confines of their pasts
to breathe the fresh air of a new day.
When they bound you and killed you
you appeared as the resurrection Lord
in all places of our humanity
available to all of us.
Like Peter, let us hear your call
to live under your loving direction.
For our sakes.
Amen