St. John’s gospel ends at chapter 20 — so chapter 21 is like a bonus, a “but wait, there’s more” moment. The story is too good to forget. After the events of Jesus’ suffering, death and Resurrection Peter and companions went back home, back to Galilee. They try to return to the life they knew before encountering Jesus. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” But they couldn’t do it. They couldn’t fish anymore. They learned that they couldn’t go back, that being a follower of Jesus changed everything. That is our story as well. As followers of Jesus our lives are not those of society at large since we are called to forgiveness, compassion, generosity.
