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Gospel:
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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Today’s Gospel summarizes the mission of the Church, and therefore our mission here at Saint Pius X.
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There are two miracles: the miraculous catch of fish and the meal that Jesus provides.
It begins at night. Peter tells the other disciples, “I’m going fishing.” So they join him. Although they’re professional fishermen – and they work through the night – their efforts are fruitless.
Such is a life without Christ.
Without Christ, we live in the darkness. Despite our best efforts we cannot bear lasting fruit; we cannot save ourselves.
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After the disciples finish working in the dark, the Risen Christ appears to them on the shore in the bright light of dawn.
Jesus then commands them to go back out onto the lake. With his blessing, they catch so many fish that Peter’s net is nearly tearing at the seams.
This net represents the Church.
With the Lord’s blessing, you and I are meant to be “fishers of men.” Following behind Peter, our shepherd, we can bring the entire world to Christ, where he sits down and feeds us with a meal.
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In the Gospel, Jesus feeds his disciples with loaves of bread and fish.
At Mass, the Lord feeds us with the Eucharist, his very Self.
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This is our mission at Saint Pius X: to live this Gospel in our daily lives.
To build community – a community centered around Christ; to worship him as God; and to bring others to Him, where he feeds us, then sends us out to fish for more.
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