NARRATOR: At the Sea of Tiberias Jesus showed himself to the disciples once again. Simon Peter, Thomas (the Twin), Nathanael (from Cana in Galilee), Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were there.
SIMON PETER: I’m going fishing.
ALL: We’ll join you.
NARRATOR: They went off to get into their boat. All through the night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak Jesus was standing on the shore, though none of the disciples knew it was Jesus.
JESUS: Children, have you not caught anything to eat?
DISCIPLES: Not a thing.
JESUS: Cast your net off to the starboard side, and you will find something.
NARRATOR: So they made a cast and took so many fish they could not haul the net in. Then the disciple Jesus loved cried out.
BELOVED DISCIPLE: Peter, it is the Lord!
NARRATOR: On hearing it was the Lord, Simon Peter threw on some clothes — he was stripped — and jumped into the water. Meanwhile the other disciples came in the boat, towing the net full of fish. Actually they were not far from land — no more than a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with a fish laid on it and some bread.
JESUS: Bring some of the fish you just caught.
NARRATOR: Simon Peter went aboard and hauled ashore the net loaded with sizable fish — 153 of them! In spite of the great number, the net was not torn.
JESUS: Come and eat your meal.
NARRATOR: Not one of the disciples presumed to inquire, “Who are you?” for they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came over, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This marked the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had eaten their meal, Jesus said to Simon Peter:
JESUS: Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?
PETER: Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
JESUS: Feed my lambs.
NARRATOR: A second time Jesus put his question.
JESUS: Simon, son of John, do you love me?
PETER: Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
JESUS: Tend my sheep.
NARRATOR: A third time Jesus asked him:
JESUS: Simon, son of John, do you love me?
NARRATOR: Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked a third time, “Do you love me?” So he said to him:
PETER: Lord, you know everything. You know well that I love you.
JESUS: Feed my sheep. I tell you solemnly: as a young man you fastened your belt and went about as you pleased; but when you are older you will stretch out your hands, and another will tie you fast and carry you off against your will.
NARRATOR: What he said indicated the sort of death by which Peter was to glorify God. Then he said to him —
JESUS: Follow me.
John 21.1-19
Sunday Readings: Acts 5.27-32, 40-41; Revelation 5.11-14; John 21.1-19