May
2
Mercy on the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1–19)
Today's gospel reading reminded me of the day of my ordination. If you haven't read that story, you can find it here. I will just retell one part of that story related to that day and to this gospel reading.
Commentators from the early Fathers to contemporary times often talk about the parallel between Simon Peter's three denials and Christ's three questions to Peter at the Sea of Iberias, the three questions being in a sense a reversal or an undoing of Simon Peter's denials. That has always been my understanding of the passage. It was brought home to me most forcefully on the day of my ordination. But to tell my story in a coherent fashion, I have to go back to before I had returned to the Church. If you've heard my reversion story, you've heard this chapter as well.
Commentators from the early Fathers to contemporary times often talk about the parallel between Simon Peter's three denials and Christ's three questions to Peter at the Sea of Iberias, the three questions being in a sense a reversal or an undoing of Simon Peter's denials. That has always been my understanding of the passage. It was brought home to me most forcefully on the day of my ordination. But to tell my story in a coherent fashion, I have to go back to before I had returned to the Church. If you've heard my reversion story, you've heard this chapter as well.
