John 21:1-19

Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

Revelation 5:11-14

John 21:1-19

At that time, 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.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He then said to Simon Peter a second time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

Jesus said to him the third time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time,

“Do you love me?” and he said to him,

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,

you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;

but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,

and someone else will dress you

and lead you where you do not want to go.”

He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.

And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who is, who was, and who will be. You are my eternal God and Lord. I love you and will serve my brothers and sisters faithfully.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Triple “I AM”: To understand more deeply Peter’s triple affirmation of love, we need to go back to the arrest of Jesus in the garden. John tells us that Judas was accompanied by a cohort (speira) of 480 to 500 soldiers. Jesus fearlessly went out to them and asked, “Whom are you looking for?” “They answered him, ‘Jesus the Nazorean.’ He said to them ‘I AM’” (John 18:5). By saying “I AM,” Jesus not only affirmed that he is the one they were searching for, but all declared that he is the one God of Israel, who revealed his divine name, “I AM” (YHWH) to Moses. John continues: “When he said to them, ‘I AM,’ they turned away and fell to the ground” (John 18:6). This was the second use of “I AM” in the passage about Jesus’ arrest in the garden. What John is doing here is referring to the liturgy of the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest came out of the Holy of Holies and pronounced the divine name, “I AM,” three times as he blessed the people (see Numbers 6:22-27 for the blessing). Each time the High Priest pronounced the divine name, the people fell down and prostrated themselves. As John’s narrative continues the divine name is invoked a third time: “So he again asked them, ‘Whom are you looking for?’ They said, ‘Jesus the Nazorean.’ Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go’” (John 18:7-8).

2. The Triple “I Am Not”: When John narrates Peter’s three denials, he uses the phrase, “I am not” twice. Peter’s denials stand in stark contrast with Jesus’ powerful “I AM.” When John brought Peter into the courtyard of the high priest, the gatekeeper asked Peter if he was a disciple of Jesus: “Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, ‘You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not’” (John 18:17). John narrates Peter’s second and third denials as follows: “Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, ‘You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, ‘I am not.’ One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, ‘Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?’ Again, Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.” (John 18:25-27). What Peter’s three denials and phrase, “I am not,” imply for us is that without God in our lives, without Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we are nothing. We are made for more than earthly life. We are made to share in divine life – the eternal life of the Father – through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.

3. The Triple “I Love You”: When the disciples reach the shore, John draws our attention to the charcoal fire Jesus had prepared. This recalls the charcoal fire by which Peter warmed himself as he denied being a disciple of Jesus (John 18:18). On the shore, Jesus asked Peter not once, not twice, but three times: “Do you love me?” The third question cut Peter to the heart. He was distressed and grieved by the third question, and yet it gave him the opportunity to renew his love for Jesus three times and be forgiven of his three denials. Love is not merely a passing feeling or a sentiment. Love is an action. It requires the unselfish gift of ourselves to another. It requires sacrifice and a true willing of the good for the beloved. Jesus indicates to Peter that if he truly loves him, he will need to give himself without reserve to the flock he shepherds, up to the point of giving his life for the sheep.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I love you. I love you. I love you. I offer the sacrifice of my life to you. I humbly ask that you receive it, purify it, and transform it into a pleasing sacrifice acceptable to the Father.

Living the Word of God: Have I pondered how my life only has meaning in reference to God? I have been created by God out of love and am on a journey of return to my Creator. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. How can I live this truth more fully in my life?