1-25 CHAPTER 21 VER. 1. _After these things_, &c. From this it appears that Peter and the other Apostles had gone from Judea into Galilee, as Christ had bidden them (_S. Matthew 23:10_). For this appearance of Christ took place in Galilee, when He, being about to go into heaven, in order that He mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_He manifested Himself thus_, &c. Christ wished a larger number, and the more honourable of His disciples, to be gathered together, in order that His manifestation might be so much the more glorious, and that before them as princes He might declare Peter to be His Vicar on earth, that so the Apostle... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the morning was come_, &c. To show that this capture of fish was the result of His grace, not of their own industry. For (naturally) in the morning fish flee away from the light and the noise into the depths of the sea. _They knew not._ Because He appeared to them in another form, as He did t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus saith_... _bring of the fish_, &c. This He did that they all might perceive the multitude of the fish and the greatness of the miracle. Mystically, S. Augustine (_Tract._ 123) says, "The broiled fish is Christ in His Passion. He is the Bread which came down from heaven. With Him the Church i... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is now the third time_, &c. That is to say, reckoning those appearances which took place when several of the Apostles were present, for of such only S. John here makes mention. For of such this was the third. Otherwise, if we enumerate all the other appearances of which the other Evangelists m... [ Continue Reading ]
_He saith to him the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee._ Hear S. Chrysostom: "Again he dreads the former things, lest perchance, thinking himself to love, he should be corrected if he did not love, like as before he was corr... [ Continue Reading ]
_He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time lovest thou Me, and he said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep_ (Syriac, _My lambs_). Why does Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
_Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young_, &c., _whither thou wouldst not_, i.e., by thy natural will of sense, or feeling. For by the rational will Peter desired this above all things. S. Chrysostom says, Christ predicts his martyrdom, showing him in what way and how much he ought to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus saith unto him, So I will him to tarry till I come, what to thee_? There is a threefold reading here. The first, the Greek, and from it the Syriac, Arabic and Ethiopic versions, _If I will him to tarry._ The second is, S. Jerome's (_lib._ 2, _cent. Jovin_) and others, _If so._ The third is th... [ Continue Reading ]