Time to Go Fishing!

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“Follow me.”

Two simple words that are a call to action.  As written in the 21st chapter of the Gospel of John (verse 19), Jesus says this to Peter after calling forth Peter’s declaration of love for him three times.

Jesus told Peter three times to take care of his sheep.  Specifically, he said, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep” and Feed my sheep.”

In other words, if you love me, take care of those whom I love.

This wasn’t just a nice little exchange.  Scripture tells us that this was the third time the resurrected Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples.  And today’s exchange followed a significant event.

The disciples had been out all night fishing and hadn’t caught anything.  As dawn approached, Jesus, standing on the shore, unrecognizable to them at the moment, asked them if they had caught anything.

Knowing they hadn’t, he had them cast their net over the boat again and it was so full of fish they couldn’t even pull it in!  When the ever-exuberant Peter learned it was Jesus on the shore, he jumped into the sea.  Eventually the others came to shore and when Jesus invited them to bring some of the fish over so they could have breakfast together, good ole’ Peter went and dragged the net ashore.

He just seems so enthusiastic, doesn’t he?

Well, as it turns out, it is a good thing he is, because he is the “rock” on which Jesus builds the Church.  Today we know him as the Pope.  (For an evidential article about what the Church Fathers (those closest to the time of the apostles!) thought about this idea that Peter is the foundation of the Church, check out “What the EarlyChurch Believed:  Peter as Pope.”

John is clearly drawing a line from A to B in his gospel. 

Jesus provides a miracle, a big catch of fish, as he identifies the head of the church.  He tells Peter, who becomes the great Fisher of Men, “Follow me.”

Peter is called to do what Jesus did—to feed and tend his sheep.  Peter is called to profess his love for Jesus and to go out and bring in others so that all may be one.

His role has not changed from the time of Jesus, and guided by the Holy Spirit, we, too, can share in that mission by loving others and giving witness to our faith.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net

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