Caste the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish
Many theologians interpret this week’s Gospel John 21: 1-14 as Jesus metaphorically completing the conversion of the disciples fishing boat into the Church. In Luke 5:4 - At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry while he walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he stepped into Simon’s fishing boat to preach to the crowd. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.'
Also, in Mark 1:17 as he passed along the shore of the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the sea and he said to them - ‘Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’
Now after the resurrection, he meets them once again on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This time a lot has happened since those early days, they have spent 3 years with him as disciples, they have witnessed his death and resurrection and they are now bewildered as to where next.
It is as though they are restarting the journey, same place and situation, but now with a different mindset. He once again instructs them - ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish.’ Surprisingly, without knowing it was Jesus, they follow the instructions and catch one hundred and fifty-three large fish.
This moment is rich in symbolism and grace. The number 153 has long intrigued scholars, often interpreted as representing the fullness and universality of the Church—every nation, tribe, and people drawn into the net of God's Kingdom.
The boat, once a vessel for daily labor, now becomes an image of the Church itself—guided by Christ, working together, casting wide nets to gather all who are searching for truth, love, and life. This is no longer just about fish; it is about people, purpose, and the transforming power of the risen Lord.
It is the same with St Paul, he was once a tent maker, and later after his conversion he once again makes tents, but this time as building small churches throughout the Roman Empire.
And so it is with us modern-day disciples. Our everyday work, relationships, and routines—once simply means of survival or success—are transformed by our encounter with the risen Christ. Just as the fishing boat became a symbol of the Church, and Paul's tent-making became a vehicle for spreading the Gospel, our lives too can be reoriented toward mission.
Christ meets us where we are, in the ordinary and familiar, and invites us to see our work, our words, and our witness as part of His great net, cast into the deep waters of the world. When we listen to His voice and follow His lead, even when the way forward seems unclear, we become participants in the building of the Kingdom—gathering, healing, and offering hope to a world longing for the Kingdom values.
Friend, I encourage you to interpret how this Gospel passage applies to your work…
As a salaried employee the way I’ve been employed for the last 30 years you end up following orders from human bosses
you’re accountable to your manager you put in the hours you provide services to clients you influence, junior staff to produce the work that has to be done
But as an entrepreneur over the last year since the beginning of 2024 I find that God is my CEO and he’s been directing me towards certain leads, several times bringing in angels, coaches, counselors that have helped me move along the purpose that God has laid out for me
I don’t know sometimes where this is leading me. I know his ways are higher than my ways I know his understanding surpasses my own understanding and I trust him. I trust him just like the disciples trusted him when he said I’ll make you fishers of men and they immediately went with him.
. Sometimes I desire to go back to my old salary status just like the disciples went back to their boats after Jesus died and was resurrected, but in this gospel this week, Jesus clearly tells them what their mission is and in the case of Peter, the rest is history.
Thank you for the reflection and the thoughts that ensued in my mind Deacon .