Tractatus Alter, Pars Prior, Cap. 18. De apparitione Christi coram septem discipulis in mari Tiheriadis piscantibus.

Tractatus Alter, Pars Prior, Cap. 18. De apparitione Christi coram septem discipulis in mari Tiheriadis piscantibus.

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, creator and governor of all, of the heavens and the earth, of angels and men, of the great and the small, of the rich and the poor, in the land of the living and in the sea of those laboring for your manifest appearance after your glorious resurrection before your seven disciples in the Sea of Tiberias, while they were fishing to acquire the necessities of life and for the sustenance of the poor and the strangers from the just labors pleasing to God and to men, granted by the law of nature and divine gift, for the many good things coming from there to avoid idleness and to spend time usefully. I praise and honor you, most merciful Jesus, visitor of those who labor and helper in opportunities, giving good counsel to those in need for the sustenance of temporal life on land and in water. I bless you for that reverend position of yours on the shore of the sea, looking out at the labors of your disciples, who were joined together in love and helped each other, proceeding in an orderly manner, taking up their tools to fish in the usual way without shouting or arguing with words to Peter, as I estimate, sitting at the helm of the ship like a captain and the most skilled in the art of fishing, at whose command and nod the others moved their hands to strong work, if perhaps any storm arose, while James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, were similarly trained in that craft, as they learned from their experienced old father, sitting steadfastly and cautiously to row, and Saint Thomas, a strong and faithful man, was ready to draw the net spontaneously with Saint H. Nathanael, an expert in the law of God and in this holy work, was ready to help, along with two other disciples, whom I do not know, but perhaps with Saint Simon and Judas, your dearest relatives and friends. With everything well arranged, and while they worked, rowed, pulled, and sweated all night long, they caught absolutely nothing by morning. So, in their despair over their work, they were thinking of giving up fishing altogether, unless God provided better. There was a great difficulty in fishing, so that later, when the Master and Lord Jesus arrived and offered guidance, there was great joy. And because Jesus was not physically present in the boat that night, as he often used to be, they caught little or nothing, just as he had predicted: "For without me you can do nothing."^✦ But don't lose heart in this situation, beloved disciples, for often a sad morning turns into a bright midday with God's favor. Expect a little and call upon the loving Lord Jesus, and you will succeed prosperously after your night of labor. And it happened that Jesus appeared and said: "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find a lot, which before, when I was absent, you could not catch a little." I praise and glorify you, most provident Jesus, for your kind words to these poor fishermen who still have no certain income or church provisions to live on; instead, they were lawfully procuring what they needed for life through the labor of their hands, so they wouldn't be burdensome to others in asking or scandalize the weak with their idleness. You came to the aid of your poor ones, dear Jesus, in their time of need, asking them if they had any food with them, in a friendly way, saying: "Children, do you have any food?" They answered, "No." A brief response before the all-powerful Lord, who knows all things from eternity, to whom every heart is open, and who sees every secret and whatever was in the boat and swims in the sea. You are merciful, good Jesus, to their poverty, just as you once provided counsel and help to the hungry crowd in the desert, giving aid to those who obey you with a single word. So, placing their hope in God with good faith, not in their own skill, they cast the net on the right side of the boat, following the command of the Lord who stood on the shore of the sea, who helped them more than anyone else with His words without any delay. And behold, with Jesus now helping them, their net was filled with such a great multitude of fish that they couldn't haul it in to shore. The gifts of God are so great that they exceed human strength. When he saw this and such a great miracle had been performed, he said to his companions, especially to Peter, the disciple whom Jesus loved, "It is the Lord." When Peter heard this, he was filled with great joy and love, and, forgetting everything else and leaving the boat without delay, he jumped into the water and hurried to Jesus, his Lord, whom he loved above all names, blessed forever. O how great was the reverence and confidence with which he approached, bending his wet knees before you, Lord Jesus, worshiping and honoring your face, which shines brighter than the sun, always visible to the holy angels, granted only to himself and his companions for consolation at that hour, while utterly denied to the great and wealthy of this world and their feasts. O sweet and gentle Jesus, don’t turn your face away from me, no matter where I am or what work I’m doing. Come and help me in singing, reading, meditating, writing, and studying. Remember me for good, and when something bad suddenly happens to me, grant me patience in my heart and let my mouth always bless you and endure everything for your love and honor. Visit me at night when I'm called to morning prayers, so that I may quickly rise with my brothers to sing psalms and help them, just as those apostles stayed together all night to catch fish and worked until dawn, and you would come and grant your blessing. For with you present and blessing, their net was filled with many large fish. So, I ask you, Lord, may your grace, both preceding and following, fill me with such sweetness of inner devotion while I pray, that many long psalms may taste better to me in prayer than great fish to a hungry person. The sweetness of the mind is greater than that of the belly. For the spirit refreshes, but the flesh weighs down; the spirit purifies and brings joy, while the flesh stains and grieves. The Spirit submits to and obeys God, but the flesh often resists and harms. The soul is better than the body, and the living spirit is more worthy than the decaying flesh. The world is sweet, but God, who creates and sustains all things, is sweeter and higher than everything. Blessed are you, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, who alone performs great wonders in the sea and on the land. For you gladly share meals and celebrate with your chosen friends, preparing for them a sacred and spiritual feast in hymns and psalms, which are sweeter than any earthly food or exquisite drink. Amen.