Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/775

 The wonderful  draught  of  fishes  has  a typical  meaning.  On  the occasion when  our  Lord  first  called  Peter  to  be  an  apostle,  He  worked a similar miracle  (see  chapter  XIX). Now that  He  was  about  to  confer on Peter  the  Chief  Pastorship  over  His  Church,  He  worked  another miracle of  the  same  kind,  in  order  to  bring  home  to  him  the  work which he,  as  Chief  Shepherd,  would  have  to  perform. The miracle worked before  the  Chief  Pastorship  was  conferred  on  Peter  is,  therefore, full  of  typical  and  prophetical  meaning. The lake  signifies  the world; the  ship,  the  Church;  the  net,  the  doctrine  of  the  Church. There was  only  one  ship,  even  as  there  is  only  one  Church  of  Christ. It was  the  ship  of  Peter;  he  governed  it,  and  he  drew  the  fish  to  land and brought  them  to  our  Lord. This signifies  that  Peter  (with  his successors,  the  Popes)  is  the  visible  head  of  the  Church,  and  that,  as such,  he  brings  the  faithful  to  our  Lord  in  heaven  (on  the  eternal  shore). The number  of  the  fishes  caught  shows  that  Peter  (the  Pope)  and  the apostles (the  bishops  and  priests),  working  under  his  guidance,  will  gain many souls  for  Christ. The apostles  had  toiled  the  whole  night  and had caught  nothing,  till  Jesus  came  and  helped  them  in  a wonderful way. This should  serve  as  an  indication  to  priests  and  teachers  in  the Church that  none  of  their  labours  will  produce  any  result,  unless  Jesus  directs and blesses  them. That the  net,  in  spite  of  the  number  of  fishes  in  it, was not  broken,  signifies  that  the  Church  of  Peter  will  receive  multitudes and nations  into  her  fold  and  will  be  strong  enough  to  contain  and maintain them  all  in  the  unity  of  faith. The miraculous  feast  indicates that our  Blessed  Lord  will  comfort  and  strengthen  His  apostles  in  the midst of  their  labours,  by  His  grace,  and  will  some  day  refresh  them at His  heavenly  banquet.

Peter's Pastoral Office. Gradually  and  slowly  our  Lord  prepared St. Peter for  his  high  office. When Jesus  saw  him  first,  He  promised him a change  of  name. “And Jesus  looking  upon  him,  said:  Thou  art Simon, the  Son  of  Jona,  thou  shalt  be  called  Cephas,  which  is  interpreted Peter” (John  i,  42). Then He  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  twelve and preferred  him  on  many  occasions. And when  Peter  had  made his solemn  profession  of  faith  in  the  Divinity  of  Christ,  Jesus  fulfilled His first  promise,  saying: “Thou  art  Peter”,  and  added  a further  promise: “And on  this  rock  I will  build  My  Church,  and  to  thee  will  I give  the keys of  the  kingdom  of  heaven”  etc.  Again,  at  the  Last  Supper  Jesus told him  that  He  had  prayed  for  him  especially  that  his  faith  might  not fail, in  order  that  he  might  confirm  his  brethren. And now  we  have reached the  climax. Our Lord  commits  to  Peter  the  full  and  final charge of  His  whole  flock,  which  comprises  sheep  and  lambs,  i.  e.  pastors or bishops  and  the  ordinary  faithful. Thus Peter  was  made  the  Vicar of Christ  upon  earth  and  Head  of  the  Church.

Jesus Christ  is  our  Lord.  Jesus,  speaking  of  the  faithful,  calls  them “ My lambs”. We are  His  people;  we  belong  to  Him,  He  is  our  Lord, because He  has  bought  us  with  His  Precious  Blood. “You are  not