Gospel (Jn 21,1-14) - At that time, Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples on the Sea of Tiberias. And he manifested himself like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them: "I am going fishing." They said to him: "We too are coming with you." Then they went out and got into the boat; but that night they took nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them: "Children, have you nothing to eat?". They replied: "No." Then he said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find." They threw it away and could no longer lift it due to the large quantity of fish. Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: "It is the Lord!". Simon Peter, as soon as he heard that he was the Lord, tightened his robe around his waist, because he was undressed, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples instead came with the boat, dragging the net full of fish: they were in fact only a hundred meters from land. As soon as they landed, they saw a fire of embers with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them: "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." Then Simon Peter got into the boat and brought the net full of one hundred and fifty-three large fish to land. And although there were many, the net did not break. Jesus said to them: "Come and eat." And none of the disciples dared to ask him: "Who are you?", because they knew well that it was the Lord. Jesus approached, took the bread and gave it to them, and also the fish. It was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples, after having risen from the dead.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Apostles, who had abandoned their nets to become fishers of men (Lk 5:10), return to being fishermen of fish. And now, when Jesus appears, without them recognizing him, the scene from the beginning is repeated. This time too they fished in vain all night. It is the experience of fruitless work, the experience of thoughts, worries and agitations that lead nowhere. Without the light of the Gospel, in fact, it is difficult to operate and bear fruit. We are as if abandoned to ourselves and our sterility. With Jesus, however, the dawn of a new day, of a new time, is approaching. It is the Risen One who approaches them. It's always his initiative. They don't even notice it and, in any case, they don't recognize it. Although tired and, understandably, disheartened, they obey the invitation to throw the nets on the other side of the boat. Perhaps in that voice they hear the echo of the one they had listened to for three years and which had fascinated them. However, they don't believe that voice can still speak. After all, how many times do we not believe that the Gospel is an effective word? But this evangelical passage can also suggest to us the usefulness of not losing the habit of listening to it. Yes, let's not lose the habit of listening to him. Those disciples, tired and disheartened, perhaps even just by instinct - the one that comes from the habit of listening to the Gospel - obeyed those words and cast the nets on the other side. And the miracle happened: the catch was abundant, beyond measure. At this point they recognize the Lord. We could say that the effectiveness of the Gospel opens their eyes and hearts. Perhaps they understand better what Jesus had told them in the past: "Without me you can do nothing" (Jn 15.5). Only with the Lord is the impossible possible. With the Gospel we can change our hearts and the world. The disciple of love immediately realizes this. It is he who recognizes the Lord and immediately tells Peter who, overwhelmed by joy, throws himself into the sea to swim to Jesus. And on that shore the disciples relive communion with the Master. Jesus has already prepared the embers with fire for them and is waiting for the fish caught from the miraculous catch. It is the banquet of the Risen One with his children. The words of the evangelist recall those of the multiplication of the loaves and the Eucharist. And in fact it is precisely the celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgy that is the place where the community of disciples is built, the place of the multiplication of love.