... I AM GOING FISHING

Jn 21:1-14

            The context of Jesus' apparition to his disciples in today's gospel is very fascinating. Peter decided to return to his home district of Galilee, very likely so he could resume his fishing career because the master is dead. Peter was discouraged and didn’t know what to do after the tragedy of Jesus’ death!  He went back to his previous career out of despair and uncertainty. The one who was turned into fisherman of men is willing to return to his former job of fisherman of fish.

            “I am going fishing!” Said Peter to the others; they answered: “We will come with you!” Thus, Thomas, Nathanael, John and James together with Peter get into the boat to go fishing. They go back to the life of the past because the master is no longer there. In this situation of despair and uncertainty, something is going to happen; the past did not return, they caught nothing the whole night; they go back to the shore, tired. Jesus was on the shore, but they did not recognize him. Jesus asks: “Little children, have you anything to eat?” Jesus asked them. They answered: “No!”; the night was deceiving because they caught nothing, no fish. At this occasion Jesus will help them to realize that after three years of experience with him it was not  possible for them to return to the past as if nothing had happened, as if nothing had changed.

             “Throw the net out to the right of the boat and you will find something”, Jesus said. They did something which perhaps they had never done in their life. Five experienced fishermen obey a foreigner who orders them to do something which is in contrast to their experience as fisherman. Jesus, that unknown person, who is on the shore, orders them to throw the net on the right side of the boat. They had been fishing all night. They had caught nothing. It was almost morning. The best time for fishing is over. Why bother throwing the net into the other side? Why not just pack it in? The disciples received this call when the circumstances were most unfavorable.They obey; they throw the net, and behold the unexpected result. The net was full of fish! How was this possible! How to explain this surprise so unexpected, unforeseen! Love makes one discover. The beloved disciple says: “It is the Lord”. This intuition clarifies everything. Peter jumped into the water to get close to Jesus very quickly. The other disciples follow him, pulling the boat, and dragging the net full of fish. the fruitless night is changed into a dawn of an overwhelmingly successful catch as a reminder to his disciples that you are no longer fisherman of fish, you have become fisherman of man. And this lesson was successfully understood; in our first reading we see Peter standing up to the threats of the religious leaders and boldly proclaims Jesus the stone they had rejected and the only source of salvation. Clearly Peter is changed from the one who denied Jesus into a leader capable of healing the sick and giving up his own life. This miracle is all clearly a parable, a symbol of their future work as fishers of people, a work whose success will originate in the power of Jesus behind them and in their following what he tells them to do.

            The experience with Jesus is a transforming experience. The important question for us today is how deep is my experience with Jesus? How I am transformed by my experience with Jesus? We might not miraculously heal a lame, but through our own deep relationship with Jesus we can perform our small miracles in a very ordinary way: being kind to one another, reaching out those in need. This is a message of Easter, to bring life to other, to make the world a place of living for everybody.