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Christ showed himself third time


Gospel
John 21:1-14
Jesus stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.
    It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words ‘It is the Lord’, Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.
    As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’; they knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

Reflection

In John 21:1-14, the post-resurrection appearance at the Sea of Tiberias invites a gentle restoration of the disciples’ trust. Jesus meets them in ordinary work and ordinary meals—fishing and cooking—turning daily rhythms into moments of grace. The miraculous catch of 153 fish signals abundance beyond effort, yet the tender scene centers on shared bread and fish, fellowship, and the quiet recognition that the risen Lord is present. This passage invites us to notice Christ in our everyday labors, to receive his provision with gratitude, and to respond with humility and renewed purpose: to follow Jesus, even when the path is ordinary and uncertain.

Reflection Question
How can I encounter or recognize the presence of the risen Jesus in my daily routines, especially in moments of waiting or futility?

Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for meeting us in the ordinary places of life—breakfast tables, work, and quiet mornings. Help us to trust your risen presence when we fish for meaning and catch nothing, and to receive your provision with grateful hearts. Renew in us a ready willingness to follow you, to serve others, and to share your love, so that our everyday moments become reflections of your grace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
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