John 21:13 — Community Reflections

JOHN 21:13 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.”

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish — Jesus' action (coming, taking, giving) mirrors Eucharistic language and establishes him as the host and provider. The distribution of bread and fish recallsthe feeding miracles and suggests that resurrection fellowship involves the sustenance and sharing of life. The active verbs (took, gave) stress Jesus' agency and care.

Church Fathers on John 21:13

John does not say that He ate with them, but Luke does. He ate however not to satisfy the wants of nature, but to show the reality of His resurrection.
Chrysostom · 4th century

The bodies of the just, when they rise again, shall need neither the word of life that they die not of disease, or old age, nor any bodily nourishment to prevent hunger and thirst. For they shall be endowed with a sure and inviolable gift of immortality, that they shall not eat of necessity, but only be able to eat if they will. Not the power, but the need of eating and drinking shall be taken away from them; in like manner as our Savior after His resurrection took meat and…
Augustine · 4th century

By holding this last feast with seven disciples, he declares that they only who are full of the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit, shall be with Him in the eternal feast. Time also is reckoned by periods of seven days, and perfection is often designated by the number seven. They therefore feast upon the presence of the Truth in that last banquet, who now strive for perfection.
Gregory the Great · 6th century

Read all 9 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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