Every Catholic Man - Sunday Gospel Bible Study
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Every Catholic Man - Sunday Gospel Bible Study
Episode 254 - Jesus causes a miraculous catch of fish and challenges and commands Peter to lead His Church - May 4, 2025 - Jn 21:1-19
Jesus causes a miraculous catch of fish and challenges and commands Peter to lead His Church. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by building the Virtue of Gratitude so he can frequently thank God for making him a Catholic man and by pursuing the Virtue of Prudence so he can rightly strive to have an “all-in” love for Jesus.
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Jesus causes a miraculous catch of fish and challenges and commands Peter to lead His Church. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by building the Virtue of Gratitude so he can frequently thank God for making him a Catholic man and by pursuing the Virtue of Prudence so he can rightly strive to have an “all-in” love for Jesus.
Liturgy
3rd Week of Easter – Sunday – Cycle C – Jn 21:1-1
Commentary
Directed by Jesus to wait for Him in Galilee, Peter leads six disciples (John, James, Nathaniel, Thomas, and two others) to fish in the Sea of Galilee. Despite being seasoned fishermen, the disciples fish all night but catch no fish.
Jesus reveals Himself at dawn to the Apostles. Mysteriously disguising His identity and voice and addressing the grown men as “Children”, Jesus directs them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. Despite the absurdity of the “stranger’s” request, the disciples obey and are rewarded with a miraculous catch. John proclaims the stranger is the Lord, Peter dives into the cold water and swims to shore, and the other disciples drag the full nets up on the beach. Recalling The Feeding of the 5000 by multiplying fish and bread (Jn 6:1-14) on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus feeds the famished disciples a hearty breakfast of fish and bread. Jesus’ glorified risen Body is mysterious; the disciples are hesitant but convinced He is the Lord.
Jesus then prepares Peter to lead His Holy Catholic Church after the Ascension. Recalling Peter’s three-fold denial of Him (Jn 18:18), Jesus asks Peter, gently rebuking him by calling him Simon instead of Peter, three times, “Do you love me?” Twice, Jesus challenges Peter to an “all in” kind of love by using the Greek word, agapao (to “dearly love”), while Peter responds with the less emphatic phileo (“friendly love”). The third time, Jesus uses phileo, settling for Peter’s “friendly love.” Each time, Jesus instructs Peter to feed or tend Jesus’ sheep or lambs, urging Peter to imitate the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1-21), and installs Peter as the earthly shepherd of the Holy Catholic Church. Ominously, Jesus cryptically reveals Peter’s future blessed martyrdom; “stretch[ing]” out his hands and “go[ing]” where he doesn’t want to go, and “follow Me”, are both allusions to Peter’s future crucifixion.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Marvel at how Jesus, the Divine King, rehabilitates Peter to be the first pope: earlier, Jesus had Harshly Upbraided Peter (Mk 16:14) for his denial and lack of faith; here, Jesus deliberately probes Peter’s love three times, one for each of Peter’s denials; Divine Charity, Jesus settles for Peter’s “friendly love”, mysteriously foretelling of Peter’s martyrdom, where Peter will demonstrate the highest form of love (Jn 15:13).
Thank God you are an adopted son of God and a Catholic man
Realize: When the Apostles fail to catch fish in the dark of the night, Jesus, the light of the world, calls to His “children” to cast their nets again in the light of dawn, giving them an unmerited miraculous catch.
Believe: Reassert your true identity as an Adopted Son of God (CCC 1, 52, 270, 294, 422, 654, 1709, 2009).
Pray: Almighty Father, help me build the Virtue of Gratitude (a part of Justice) so I always give joyous thanks that You have given me the unmerited gift of becoming Your adopted son and the great blessing to be a Catholic man.
Strive to have an “all-in” love for Jesus
Realize: While Jesus patiently tolerates a man’s mediocre affection for Him, only saints who have an “all-in” (agapao) kind of love for Him will be received into Heaven.
Believe: Reflect upon Concupiscence (CCC 1264, 1426, 2515) and the continual Conversion of the Baptized (CCC 1423, 1427-1429).
Pray: Jesus, Perfection of Prudence, help me grow in the Virtue of Prudence so I continually challenge myself to greater conversion, striving to identify and eliminate my sins and to have an “all-in” love for You.