An encounter with Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, demands a response and does not leave one unchanged. We see this when Jesus approached the disciples at the beginning of his ministry, asking them to follow Him, and we see it again in today’s Gospel when Jesus approaches them after the events of His crucifixion and death. Following Peter’s initiative the disciples have gone back to their labor. “I am going fishing” he says. Their sadness and discouragement are almost palpable and Peter’s words have the feeling of being a reluctant resolution. They had left everything behind to follow Jesus. They had come to believe that He was the Messiah, the Christ. They loved Him. However, Jesus was now dead, and, as unexpected and devastating as the events of the Passion and Cross were, they needed to get back to their labor. The scene of the gospel promptly reminds us of that occasion at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry when the disciples, at the Lord’s command, lower the nets for a catch and pull in a large number of fish (Luke 5:1-11). Luke tells us that after that encounter with Jesus the disciples “left everything and followed Him.” This encounter and the subsequent decision to follow Jesus is clearly engraved in their hearts because even though they do not recognize Jesus at first, the moment He gives the command and they catch a large number of fish, the disciple whom the Lord loved recognizes Him: “It is the Lord.” These mere words give Peter such joy that he leaps off the boat and swims to Jesus. Back on the shore the disciples sit around the charcoal fire with Jesus. The scene that takes place again reminds us of a previous instance. The Greek word anthrakia used for the “charcoal fire” is the same used in John 18:18 for the “charcoal fire” around which Peter warmed himself during Jesus’ trial and around which – upon being asked if he knew Jesus – he denied the Lord a second and third time. Now around the fire on the shore, the risen Lord asks Peter three times whether he loves him. In this beautiful dialogue we see each question and answer move deeper and deeper, allowing Jesus’ mercy and love to heal Peter’s guilt, but also demanding more and more of complete and unreserved commitment from Peter. The climax is reached with Peter’s third answer “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” and Jesus’ command to feed His sheep and the prediction of what the very love Peter has just professed would ultimately demand of him. At the end, having thrice professed his love for Jesus, Peter is once again invited to follow the Lord. Being a Christian means being a disciple. It is not a matter of a single instance but of a life-long walk with the Lord. As we continue to walk on the road of discipleship let us not be discouraged by our sin and weakness, by the difficulties and hardship of life. Let us rather joyfully continue to place our trust in God’s mercy and to keep in our hearts, and continually recall, all that He has done for us, especially those times we have encountered Him and experienced His love for us. Above all, in this Easter season let us be continually reminded of the new life which we have been granted in Christ, and let us confidently follow Him and with Peter say: “Lord you know everything, you know that I love you.”
Santiago Torres – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta