¹ After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way.
² Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together.
³ Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.
⁴ Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
⁵ Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No."
⁶ He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish.
⁷ That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.
⁸ But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.
¹⁰ Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."
¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
¹² Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
¹³ Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
¹⁴ This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
¹⁶ A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
¹⁷ He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go."
¹⁹ (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

• John's Gospel has two charcoal fire scenes. In chapter 18, Peter denied Jesus three times. In this chapter, Peter professed his love for Jesus three times. Love heals his sins and reunites him to Jesus.
• From love comes deeds, namely feeding and tending Jesus' lambs and sheep (vv.15-17), even if the actions cost one's life (v. 18). The lambs and sheep belong to Jesus, not Peter.
• Love also gives light: the beloved disciple recognized Jesus first (v.7). John's love also gave him advantages over Peter in other situations: John sat next to Jesus at the last supper (13:23); Peter relied on John to ask Jesus a question (13:24-25); and John, like Jesus, entered Caiapha's courtyard through the gate like a true shepherd, while Peter had to wait for John to lead him in like a sheep.
• Regardless of an apparent pride among John's disciples about John's closeness to Jesus, they acknowledge in this appendix, chapter 21, that Jesus chose Peter to be the leader, but only after Peter professed what John has abundantly, namely love for Jesus.
• The meal that Jesus prepares (vv.9-13) is an Eucharistic symbol. The disciples bring the whole world (153 fish) to Christ in this meal. The untorn net holding all these fish together points to a unity.

Out of love, Jesus' disciples are called to unite and bring the whole world to Christ in the Eucharistic celebration, where Christ feeds all.

1. When Jesus asks me, "Do you love me?" how would I reply?
2. Out of love for Jesus, what does Jesus ask me to do here and now?
3. To what extent would I accept his invitation for action?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community