Fisher of Men

05-04-2025Weekly ReflectionBishop John Dolan, Diocese of Phoenix

Jesus appeared to His disciples, who had gone back to fishing. Still preoccupied with his guilt, Peter instigated everything. He probably thought that after three times denying Jesus, he had nothing to offer to Him. Together with the others, they felt that everything was gone, and they had to work and make a living. They are unsure if they need to return to being fishermen until the Lord makes them remember who they were and their mission.

Jesus instructed Mary Magdalene: Go tell my disciples to go to Galilee, and there they will see me (Mt. 28:10). Moving the setting to Galilee, they returned to their original livelihood, fishing. There is nothing wrong with going back to fishing; they had nothing to do while waiting for the Lord, or it is simply the most natural step for them to be more comfortable catching fish than the commandment of Jesus to be fishers of men. But the Apostles would soon discover they were no longer the same fishermen they used to be; catching fish was no longer their task; God had a different mission for them—to be fishers of men.

The Apostles realized the futility of the effort to go back to fishing; it took a carpenter (Jesus) to advise them to throw their nets to the starboard side (the right side) to catch fish again, a reminiscence of when Jesus first called them in Lk. 5:1-11. What is the significance of the two sides of the boat? They represent the two ways we can live in this world: to live according to the flesh or the Spirit. Fishing the whole night and the empty nets represent what we can accomplish with our efforts. The abundant catch represents the ministry guided and led by the Spirit. Following our will is a waste of time because our mission is to follow and cooperate with His Will or divine plan, and the Lord can bless our ministry abundantly.

The Apostles have yet to understand their new vocation, their new mission. They do not know the great things the Lord has prepared for them in this new mission. They are not to rely on their effort but completely trust God to lead and guide them. The problem with man is that our natural vision is so limited. As St. Paul says: “Things which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) To see what is beyond the natural horizon, we need the eyes of faith – to see what God intends to reveal through the Spirit.

When the eyes of faith are open, we see the futility of wasting our time returning to our former ways of pursuing our natural preferences. Instead, we focus on our new mission and hopefully share the vision of John in Revelation 5:12: “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise.” I cannot imagine St. John the Evangelist, who witnessed the glory of His transfiguration, going back to fishing! In the same way, when our eyes are open in faith, there is no more hesitation; the flesh will still have desires and fears, but the focus of the Spirit is on the praise, honor, and worship of God.

Finally, the Lord knows that it is not for lack of faith, hope, and love that Peter went back to fishing; knowing his heart, Peter feels unworthy to continue following Jesus, especially after denying Him three times. But Jesus mercifully and compassionately allows Peter to redeem himself after his three denials of the Lord by three renewed affirmations of love. The triple affirmation reminded Peter of his new role as a shepherd and no longer a fisherman. Jesus believes that now Peter is ready after receiving the triple affirmation of his love and entrusts the sheep to him, the flock the Lord faithfully shepherded.

Lord, help us remember, celebrate, and believe everything You have done for us.