Gospwel of the Day
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 21:1–19
At that time, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way:
Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.”
They said to him, “We’ll go with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered Him, “No.”
He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
So they cast it, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards.
When they came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them:
“Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them: “Come and have breakfast.”
None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was 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?”
He said to Him: “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him: “Feed My lambs.”
A second time He said to him:
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
He said: “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
Jesus said: “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time:
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He said to him the 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 wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and take you where you do not wish to go.”
He said this to signify by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After this He said to him:
“Follow Me.”
Prerequisite
Jesus entrusts His sheep to Peter only after confirming that Peter truly loves Him.
Just days earlier, Peter had denied Him. Now, before giving him responsibility for His flock, Jesus gently but firmly leads Peter to declare his love three times—in the presence of the same community who had witnessed his failure.
To care for the Lord’s sheep, it is essential first to love deeply the Lord of the sheep.
Applying It to Married Life
Marcos: I worry that I might not be capable of loving you as much as the Lord expects me to.
Paula: The very fact that you’re asking that question is a sign of your love for the Lord. You don’t want to fail Him—and that’s what love looks like. If you love Him, you’ll love me, because you know how much He loves me.
Marcos: That comforts me, because it’s true—I love the Lord deeply now. And that wasn’t the case when we got married.
Mother,
You know everything. You know how much I love my spouse, and how much I love my Lord.
To Him be glory and praise forever.