Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
We've all seen cartoons in which a sign has been posted to explain the absence of a certain character where he might be expected to appear. "Gone fishin'," it reads. The phrase has taken on the connotation of being AWOL, playing hookey, an unexcused absence. When Peter tells his fellow disciples, "I am going fishing," and when they responded that they will go with him, these notions might not at first come to mind. However, this is the twenty-first and last chapter of St. John's Gospel, added sometime after the original first twenty chapters were completed. The discussion of why and wherefore this addition was made has filled heavy tomes. In some ways, those books can be summed up in the words: "Gone fishin'."
Each of the other Gospels ends with the very familiar commission which Jesus gives to forth, to preach, and to baptize all nations. While we would not begrudge the apostles some "down time," the fact that Jesus appears to them on the seashore, serves them breakfast, and then commissions Peter to "feed my sheep" speaks to us of the fact that the early Christian community was still struggling, reflecting and coming to understand what had been asked of them. Indeed, they were not meant to return to their original occupation of fishing.
This appearance also includes the thrice asked question and Peter's response regarding his love for Jesus. So in addition to the implied admonition to get about the work of preaching the Gospel, this scene also recalls Peter's three-fold denial during the passion.
While some might consider it regrettable that such reminders were included, the fact that the Gospel ends on this note does give a nod to the human nature of this community. God's perfection is God's alone; we are and will always be frail, human beings, fraught with the inevitable weaknesses, faults and failings that are part of being human. The fact the Peter denied Christ three times, not once, recalls for us that we all continue to struggle to be what God asks us to be. We are indeed fortunate that God is willing to forgive and forgive and forgive. Indeed, God is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and rich in kindness.