John 21: 1-9
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
“I’m going 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.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
He said,“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
A Thought
After being raised from the dead, Jesus appeared for the third time to the disciples. This time Jesus tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat for a large catch of fish. Jesus invites them to the prepared breakfast of bread and fish when they landed on shore. After eating, Jesus asks Simon Peter (who had denied Jesus three times) three times if he truly loves him. Jesus then says that if he does truly love him, for him to feed his lambs, to take care of his sheep, and to feed his sheep. Here Jesus is reminding Simon Peter of his love for him even though Peter had denied him three times. At the same time Jesus was encouraging him to be responsible for caring and nurturing his people.
Our Prayer
Father help us to love and encourage others to accept your Son even when they have denied you in word or in deed. Then help us to nurture them on their path to be your disciples. We ask in Jesus name, amen.
