A couple of questions about the Bible readings this past Sunday

  • Thread starter Thread starter hilarycotter
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

hilarycotter

Guest
They were all new testament readings. One from Acts, one from St. John, and one from Revalation. I thought one was supposed to be one old testament, one from the Gospels and one from the other books of the new testament.

Secondly, when Christ prepares breakfast for the Apostles of bread and fish. I thought when Christ gives communion the formula is he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it and then distributes it. Whereas here it is different. Is this communion or just plain breakfast.

TIA

Hilary
 
Good questions!

During the Easter season, the First Readings are from Acts. I believe the 2nd readings are from the Epistles (as usual) AND sometimes Revelation.

This was not a communion service. I’d call it a reconciliation service for Peter. If you look at the scene, Jesus is sitting in front of a charcoal fire. When was the last time you saw a charcoal fire in John’s Gospel? During Christ’s Passion, we saw Peter in front of a charcoal fire denying Christ three times.

In this scene, Jesus is giving Peter the chance to wipe away his denials and take on the role of Pope (Tend my Sheep, Feed my Lambs, Tend my Lambs). Notice these are all Shepherds’ roles. Christ, the Good Shepherd, is making Peter the Shepherd of both Jesus’ Lambs (all Christians) and His Sheep (the Church Leaders) until Jesus’ return.
 
In reading one "We must obey God rather than men-"
From psalms “you preserved me from among those going down into the pit"
In reading two " worth is the Lamb”
And in the Gospel “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.”

You can get these readings at usccb.org/nab/index.shtml

This Gospel is very hidden many believe the 153 fish represents the known nations at that time, the net represents the Catholic Church. The net was empty until Peter followed the Lord’s command to cast. Once the command was followed the net was too full for any man to lift, and contained every nation.
hope that helps
 
Excuse me while I pick myself off the floor.

Great answers Texas Roofer and NotWorthy! Its those often overlooked details that completely blow me away:)

Hilary
 
hilarycotter said:
They were all new testament readings. One from Acts, one from St. John, and one from Revalation. I thought one was supposed to be one old testament, one from the Gospels and one from the other books of the new testament.

Secondly, when Christ prepares breakfast for the Apostles of bread and fish. I thought when Christ gives communion the formula is he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it and then distributes it. Whereas here it is different. Is this communion or just plain breakfast.

TIA

Hilary
Click to expand...
in the Easter season the first reading is from Acts of the Apostles and some of the second readings are from Revelation in at least one cycle.

The story of the catch of fish is the story of a post-resurrection appearance to the apostles and the dialogue with Peter, it is not a Eucharist story per se, except insofar that all meal sharing in the NT does have a Eucharistic dimension. Just breakfast prepared and eaten by a Person whose body has risen from the dead, and demonstrates the reality of that risen Body.
 
And the details that Jesus already prepared breakfast for hungry work men also show us how He loves and cares for us both physically and spiritually.

Tak
 
The preceding posts ‘nail’ the matters quite well.

I’ve heard different explanations for 153. For one thing, it is seven 19’s, 19 representing heaven, 7 representing fullness or completeness. Therefore, the Church, represented by the net, will hold all those who are the elect of heaven.
 
tptram said:
And the details that Jesus already prepared breakfast for hungry work men also show us how He loves and cares for us both physically and spiritually.

Tak
Click to expand...
With Jesus having some fish prepared already, He’s showing that His job here is done. He’s caught His fish (the Apostles). Now it’s up to the Apostles to “reel the rest” in. Of course, this is my take on it.
 
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.

I have always wondered what this scene might look like.

In 2007 I would expect lump or briquette charcoal and a tripod or at least a little grill stolen from a smokey joe.

But in the first century - is it normal to have charcoal? Why not just have a wood fire?

And how do you grill on it without getting burned? Is this metal tools, stones, sticks ???

And is the bread on the fire, or just near it? Is our Lord making toast?

There must be a painting or picture somewhere that some smart person made depicting this. Any ideas?
 
Actually, the original uses a Greek word that means “fire of coals” (like a wood fire that’s just glowing), not “charcoal fire.”

DaveBj
 
The meanings of the readings are pretty well covered. The only thing I can add is that in chapter 18, John tells of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. He had the apostles distribute them as they do in the Eucharist where the priests distribute the hosts to feed us. In chapter 21, bread and fish are again present again showing how they feed us with the apostles (priests) and Jesus in his Glorious Body.
mdcpensive1
 
hilarycotter said:
Excuse me while I pick myself off the floor.

Great answers Texas Roofer and NotWorthy! Its those often overlooked details that completely blow me away:)

Hilary
Click to expand...
Here’s something that blows me away that has to do with the 153 fishes passage. John 21:11 says"So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn." According to Stephen Ray’s book The Gospel of John, the Greek word used for torn translates to schizo, which is the root of the word schism. So what the last part of this verse tells me is that Peter’s net (Church) is NOT in schism.

Of course, we are all free to interpret as we wish (as long as we don’t conflict with Magisterial teaching). I would be curious to know what the interpretation of that passage is among non-Catholics. I guess most of them would not find it significant. But so much of John’s Gospel has dual meaning, I can’t help but feel that this verse contains an important, rather subtle message about the Church founded upon Peter.
 
Nurse_Joy said:
But in the first century - is it normal to have charcoal? Why not just have a wood fire?

And how do you grill on it without getting burned? Is this metal tools, stones, sticks ???

?
Click to expand...
making charcoal is an ancient art practiced in many cultures and enables the same amount of wood to generate more heat more economically, with less smoke. grills and gridirons were also in use at that time (think hibachi) as witness their use as an instrument of torture.
 
DaveBj said:
Actually, the original uses a Greek word that means “fire of coals” (like a wood fire that’s just glowing), not “charcoal fire.”

DaveBj
Click to expand...
That’s interesting… I have never heard that before. I, too, wondered exactly what “charcoal fire” meant and now it makes sense. I did notice, however, that the the last time that Peter was next to a “charcoal fire” it was when he denied Jesus three times. In this last passage of John, Jesus builds the same kind of fire and gives Peter the opportunity to proclaim his love for Him three times. Gotta love the Gospel of John…it is fascinating!
 
Nurse_Joy said:
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.

I have always wondered what this scene might look like.

In 2007 I would expect lump or briquette charcoal and a tripod or at least a little grill stolen from a smokey joe.

But in the first century - is it normal to have charcoal? Why not just have a wood fire?

And how do you grill on it without getting burned? Is this metal tools, stones, sticks ???

And is the bread on the fire, or just near it? Is our Lord making toast?

There must be a painting or picture somewhere that some smart person made depicting this. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Dear Nurse,
Perhaps you should talk to some back-woods-men.
Ask them how they cook on a fire.
A fire of logs makes too many fumes and smokes, and so spoils the food.
What they do is start a log fire, but let it burn through to glowing coals, then, raking the coals together, cook the meal on the coals,
Not rocket science, just forgotten science.
It’s too easy to use the microwave!
 
Prayer_Warrior said:
Here’s something that blows me away that has to do with the 153 fishes passage. John 21:11 says"So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn." According to Stephen Ray’s book The Gospel of John, the Greek word used for torn translates to schizo, which is the root of the word schism. So what the last part of this verse tells me is that Peter’s net (Church) is NOT in schism.

Of course, we are all free to interpret as we wish (as long as we don’t conflict with Magisterial teaching). I would be curious to know what the interpretation of that passage is among non-Catholics. I guess most of them would not find it significant. But so much of John’s Gospel has dual meaning, I can’t help but feel that this verse contains an important, rather subtle message about the Church founded upon Peter.
Click to expand...
St Jerome stated that it was commonly held in New Testament times that the lake held 153 species of fish, though this source has never been found. Still his conclusion is valid, namely, that the Gospel would be preached to every imaginable type of person in the world.
 
By the way, I found 153 in the Old Testament. In 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 2, Verse 16:
Thereupon Solomon took a census of all the alien men who were in the land of Israel (following the census David his father had taken of them), who were found to number one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred.
Click to expand...
Although for the life of me, I can’t find any connection to the 153 fish.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top