From now on, you will fish for men
A very interesting question was posed by St. Gregory the Great in his sermon on today's Gospel: "Why is it that the Lord Jesus, who before his resurrection walked on the waves of the sea, now that he has risen, is waiting for his disciples on the shore?" According to St. Gregory, the sea symbolizes temporality; the waves and storms of the sea illustrate our present passing and the various storms of our current life, such as those in which one can be spiritually wrecked and perish forever. St. Gregory explains that the disciples worked at sea because they were still amidst the waves of this life, which is subject to death. However, the resurrected Savior stood on the shore, as He was not subject to passing and death.
This symbolism aligns perfectly with the evangelical image of apostolic work, which Jesus compared to fishing. "From now on you will fish for men," he once said to Peter. For ordinary fish, the sea is a natural environment. We humans are like fish that face the threat of eternal death if we remain in the sea; our salvation comes from being fished out of it.
Now, even the Apostles could not have saved anyone from eternal death by their own power. This is symbolized by the all-night empty catch described in today's Gospel. Only the catch carried out at the command of the resurrected Jesus proved to be not only successful but even more bountiful. For we can only be saved from the sea of death by the sacrifice of Christ, who died and rose again for us.
Also, the number 153 fish in Simon Peter's net is certainly symbolic. It turns out that if this number is written in Hebrew letters, we get the notation qehal ha—ahabha, which means "Church of love." Yes, this is exactly why Jesus died and rose again: to gather us into the Church of love.
Let us now examine the second part of the Gospel. It is rarely noted that before the resurrected Lord Jesus entrusted Peter with pastoral authority, he prepared a meal and shared it with his disciples. First, one must be a friend of Jesus and partake at the Lord's table; only then can one be called to pastoral ministry.
After eating with Peter and the other disciples, the Lord Jesus asks him one very important question three times: "Do you love me?" The love of Christ is the foundation of pastoral ministry in the Church. "Love covers a multitude of sins", the Apostle Peter later wrote in his Letter (1 Peter 4:8). It was love that repaired the devastation caused in Peter's soul by the sin of denial. The Apostle Paul also rewarded the Lord Jesus for his sin of blindness, which led him to persecute Christians. Later, the Apostle Paul could write with complete truth: " For the love of Christ impels us" (2 Corinthians 5:14). He could have written even more: " What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? […]I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:35-39).
Let us also comment on the conclusion of today's Gospel. Namely, Jesus announced to Peter that he would glorify God with a martyr's death. It is important to recognize that the papal ministry in the Church is often marked by some form of martyrdom. In the early centuries of the Church, the bishops of Rome typically departed from this world through martyrdom. However, some aspects of martyrdom frequently characterize the papal ministry. It suffices to recall the humiliation and slander faced by popes in the nineteenth century, or the unjust accusations directed at Pius XII and Paul VI. John Paul II was nearly fatally wounded by an assassin's bullet, and he has been accused of numerous things – pride, an inability to understand contemporary times. Pope Francis was rejected by some representatives of the Church institution, or so-called traditional Catholics, but loved by those pushed to the margins of the Church. The Lord Jesus foretold this: "They have persecuted me, and they will persecute you." And in today's Gospel, Jesus announced Peter's martyrdom.
The Holy Spirit and the Conclave
The Catholic Church, and one can say the whole world, is waiting for the election of a new pope. Thank God, the pope is elected by cardinals, not by various types of media. The conclave is a time of special action by the Holy Spirit. And the Church, with prayers, is doing everything to help the cardinals be open to this voice of God. This is also why the choice is made in complete isolation from the hustle and bustle of the world. In the constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, Blessed John Paul II writes that the conclave is to be a time when cardinals should accept the inner movements of the Holy Spirit. That is why it begins with the hymn Veni Creator, and that is why it is accompanied by the prayer of the whole Church.
" The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."
Finally, it is worth referring to the word "I say to you, you are Peter, [i.e., the Rock] and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Mt 16:18)
This promise should bring inner peace, but it must not lead to cunning self-confidence. Although Christ promised that the Church would last forever, he did not promise that it would always be a Church in perfect condition, full of believers. The history of the Old Testament teaches us that true faith can sometimes survive only in a small handful. Yet, this handful can awaken faith, leading to a resurgence of universal belief. Nevertheless, the People of God – including the People of the New Testament – have experienced, and will continue to experience, different periods throughout history. God will not take away our freedom – He will permit us to be shallow and mediocre. However, if this occurs, it is only to reveal His greatness anew after some time, allowing a true hero to lead His Church. Nonetheless, it does not have to be this way, either this time or the next.
That is why our fervent prayer for a successful election of the new pope is essential. It is for the openness of cardinals to the light of the Holy Spirit. It is not about the light of the Holy Spirit itself, because it is always present; God always desires to enlighten, but rather about our openness to this light. Additionally, our daily prayers for Peter of Our Times are necessary. This is what God expects of us – and this is certain, regardless of who will become the pope.
fr. george