Why praise God? Because, of course, God is worthy of praise. Praise, though, is also a response as well as an obligation, an expression of gratitude for forgiveness, for the blessings of life, and for the sacrifice of others.

It’s best to do as Peter did: confirm your love and loyalty to Christ above every other attachment. You pray that the new person in Peter’s chair is doing the same. Jesus alone can change the want of your world into total satisfaction. He holds in his hands the 153 fish, and you can trust that what is given to him will not get away.

WHAT IS more astonishing: that the disciples of Jesus should have returned to their former lives so soon after Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection? That they should have gotten a net-breaking load of fish at the direction of some backseat angler yelling instructions from shore? Or that the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Savior should say, “Hey, guys: Come and have breakfast. My treat”?

God forgives our sins. In a spirit of repentance we turn to God’s mercy.

If the gospel story sounds familiar, that’s because it is. It’s a lot like the episode of the miraculous catch of fish: The apostles fish all night, catch nothing, and then at Jesus’ intervention come up with a huge haul.

There comes that time in our lives when our parents or grandparents become too old or sick to care for themselves, and they stretch out their hands to us.

At Rome Nero was the first who stained with blood the rising faith. Then is Peter girt by another, when made fast to the cross. —Tertullian, Scorpiace (203-204 A.D.)