From Catching Fish to Catching Men

1. From Catching Fish to Catching Men

Every moment in the life of Christ is a teaching moment — for the disciples, and for us. In today’s Gospel, we witness another miraculous catch of fish. In the first miraculous catch, Jesus reveals Himself as the Incarnate Son of God; here, He appears as the Risen Son of God. The first shows that He came down from heaven; this one shows that He has risen from the dead.

After this miraculous catch, they haul in 153 fish. St. Jerome noted that Greek zoologists at the time had identified 153 types of fish.

With this detail, we begin to see the deeper meaning of the scene: the sea represents the world, the boat represents the Church guided by Peter, and the fish symbolize all kinds of believers gathered from every nation. As Jesus told them, “I will make you fishers of men.”

2. Which Fishing Was Productive?

If this episode represents the Church, it also shows us two kinds of Church: one that is fruitful and one that is barren.

At first, when the disciples went fishing on their own, without being sent, they caught nothing. But when Peter went at Jesus’ command, the nets were full, and the boat nearly sank.

We often ask ourselves: Why do we go out to “fish” — to call people — and yet catch nothing?

One possible answer is found here: the Church bears fruit when it follows the voice and teaching of Christ, when it proclaims the fullness of revelation without dimming its light.

Many churches today are empty because they fish on their own initiative, adapting Christ’s doctrine to suit the world. But this compromise leads to empty pews and confused souls.

Only churches that remain faithful to the full truth of Christ — presenting the Gospel without edits or compromises — can be truly fruitful.

3. What Happens in the Church Also Happens in Us

The Church is made up of us. If we want to see its fruits, we must also follow the fullness of Christ’s teaching in our personal lives.

There is always the temptation to soften Christ’s teachings, to make them less sharp. But a revelation without sharpness cannot cut away our sins — and without that, we cannot bear fruit.

We are reminded of a story from the life of St. Francis of Assisi:

.I want it observed to the letter, to the letter, to the letter, without gloss or interpretation. I know how weak human nature is, and I want to help them. Those who do not want to keep it should leave the Order.”

Today, many congregations that follow the voice of the world are dying. A few days ago, a colleague of mine visited the Vatican. The director of the IOR (Vatican Bank) told him, “You are different. People come here to store money, hoping to earn interest — but you come only to buy supplies for the mission.”

Conclusion

If we want to be fruitful, we must follow the fullness of Christ’s revelation, without mixing it with worldly teachings.

At this particular moment, when we are praying for a new pope, many people are hoping for a shepherd who will change the doctrine and open the Church to worldly views — hoping the Church will change instead of themselves.

But I pray for a pastor who will help us to hear the voice of Christ in its fullness — without mixture, without compromise — a pastor according to the heart of Jesus, not according to human desires.

Let us ask for God’s mercy in this time. Let us pray for a pope according to His heart, not according to our own preferences.

May God have mercy on us. Amen.