Christ manifests himself to his disciples by the sea side and gives
Peter the charge of his sheep.
21:1. After this, Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the
sea of Tiberias. And he shewed himself after this manner.
21:2. There were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called
Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of
Zebedee and two others of his disciples.
21:3. Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We
also come with thee. And they went forth and entered into the ship: and
that night they caught nothing.
21:4. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the
disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
21:5. Jesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They
answered him: No.
21:6. He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship; and
you shall find. They cast therefore: and now they were not able to draw
it, for the multitude of fishes.
21:7. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter: It is the
Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat
about him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea.
21:8. But the other disciples came in the ship (for they were not far
from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with
fishes.
21:9. As soon then as they came to land they saw hot coals lying, and a
fish laid thereon, and bread.
21:10. Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have
now caught.
21:11. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great
fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many,
the net was not broken.
21:12. Jesus saith to them: Come and dine. And none of them who were at
meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? Knowing that it was the Lord.
21:13. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them: and fish in
like manner.
21:14. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his
disciples, after he was risen from the dead.
21:15. When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter:
Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him:
Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my
lambs.
21:16. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He
saith to him: yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to
him: Feed my lambs.
21:17. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou
me? Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time: Lovest
thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou
knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.
Feed my sheep.... Our Lord had promised the spiritual supremacy to St.
Peter; St. Matt. 16. 19; and here he fulfils that promise, by charging
him with the superintendency of all his sheep, without exception; and
consequently of his whole flock, that is, of his own church.
21:18. Amen, amen, I say to thee, When thou wast younger, thou didst
gird thyself and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be
old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee
and lead thee whither thou wouldst not.
21:19. And this he said, signifying by what death he should glorify
God. And when he had said this, he saith to him: Follow me.
21:20. Peter turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved
following, who also leaned on his breast at supper and said: Lord, who
is he that shall betray thee?
21:21. Him therefore when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus: Lord, and
what shall this man do?
21:22. Jesus saith to him: So I will have him to remain till I come,
what is it to thee? Follow thou me.
21:23. This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that
disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not
die; but: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee?
21:24. This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things and
hath written these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
21:25. But there are also many other things which Jesus did which, if
they were written every one, the world itself. I think, would not be
able to contain the books that should be written.