Fr. Milanese is truly a Biblical scholar. He explained John 21 in a scholarly and yet accessible manner to the congregation.
Firstly, he confidently told us that John 21 was an appendix. It was added after John had finished the gospel. The Johannine community was facing a few challenges. One of them was the status of Peter. How could a man who had denied Jesus three times be one of their leaders? No problem. Jesus gave Peter a chance to declare three times that he loved the Lord more than the rest.
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." (John 21:15-17)
Secondly, there was rumour that John, the disciple whom the Lord loved, would not die. But John was already dead. Jesus dismissed this rumour. It was a misinterpretation of his word.
Jesus said to him (Peter), "If it is my will that he (the disciple whom Jesus loved) remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"
The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" (John 21:22-23)
Thirdly, the community had been working very hard to evangelize. Yet, the efforts seemed to be futile. The story in John 21 reassures the community that with Jesus, they would be able to see the good harvest.
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." (John 21:15-17)
Secondly, there was rumour that John, the disciple whom the Lord loved, would not die. But John was already dead. Jesus dismissed this rumour. It was a misinterpretation of his word.
Jesus said to him (Peter), "If it is my will that he (the disciple whom Jesus loved) remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"
The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" (John 21:22-23)
Thirdly, the community had been working very hard to evangelize. Yet, the efforts seemed to be futile. The story in John 21 reassures the community that with Jesus, they would be able to see the good harvest.
The Apostles followed the instruction of the risen Jesus to meet him in Galilee and returned north (Matthew 28:10). They stayed at the seaside where Jesus had multiplied the loaves. Seven people were mentioned: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, sons of Zebedee and two other disciples. Peter decided to go out fishing and the rest followed. After working the whole night, they did not catch anything.
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(John 21:3).
Fr. Milanese interpreted fishing as preaching the gospel. But the Johannine believers had no luck. They worked hard but saw no results. It was frustrating. No problem. Jesus appeared.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No."
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 (John 21:5-6).
Sounds familiar? The same miraculous catch story can also be found in Luke 5:1-11. Here is the catch.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8)
Some Biblical scholars think that this miraculous catch story was anachronistic. It should have happened after Jesus' resurrection. Their argument is that Jesus was addressed as the Lord only after his resurrection, not before. Moreover, it explains better why Peter called himself a sinful man. It was because he had denied Jesus three times. So, Peter confessed his sins after Jesus' resurrection. To serve his writing plan, Luke moved the story back to the beginning of Jesus' public ministry when he called his first disciples.
Back to John's story. The moral is straight forward. However hard we work, it will be futile without Jesus.
Jesus call us to follow him. We follow his call but very often, we do things in our own ways. We pursue our goals instead of Jesus'. A Chinese idiom should serve as a good reminder. 「謀事在人，成事在天。」"To calculate is human. To fulfil is divine."
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(John 21:3).
Fr. Milanese interpreted fishing as preaching the gospel. But the Johannine believers had no luck. They worked hard but saw no results. It was frustrating. No problem. Jesus appeared.
Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No."
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 (John 21:5-6).
Sounds familiar? The same miraculous catch story can also be found in Luke 5:1-11. Here is the catch.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8)
Some Biblical scholars think that this miraculous catch story was anachronistic. It should have happened after Jesus' resurrection. Their argument is that Jesus was addressed as the Lord only after his resurrection, not before. Moreover, it explains better why Peter called himself a sinful man. It was because he had denied Jesus three times. So, Peter confessed his sins after Jesus' resurrection. To serve his writing plan, Luke moved the story back to the beginning of Jesus' public ministry when he called his first disciples.
Back to John's story. The moral is straight forward. However hard we work, it will be futile without Jesus.
Jesus call us to follow him. We follow his call but very often, we do things in our own ways. We pursue our goals instead of Jesus'. A Chinese idiom should serve as a good reminder. 「謀事在人，成事在天。」"To calculate is human. To fulfil is divine."
Dear Lord, without You, I can accomplish nothing. Allow me to follow Your call patiently and depart not too far away from You. Amen.
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