The net filled with fish

“So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.” (Jn 21:11)

I like those exact numbers in the Bible. I can even see the disciples counting. And we know that some of these numbers have also symbolic meaning: like twelve (tribes or Apostles) and forty (years or days).

“One hundred fifty-three” probably means apostolic universalism. At that time zoologists catalogued one hundred fifty-three different species of fish. And “even though there were so many, the net was not torn”. The Catholic Church is catholic, which means: universal. “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.”

This is my daily observation here in the USA. So many nations, colors and accents, names from all over the world – and we pray together during the same Mass. My brothers and sisters in Poland, in Mexico, in New Zealand, UK or in Belgium celebrate the same mystery of Easter, say the same prayers and recive the same Body and Blood during Communion. “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are able to be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“Jesus said to his disciples: Come and eat. And he took bread and gave it to them, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon).