This caught fish, natural, and that one in the fire, miraculous, will be united into one Eucharist, because all food in the hands of the Lord is the Eucharist.

Simon Peter went and hauled ashore a net filled with large fish, one hundred and fifty-three in number; And with such a multitude, the net did not break. (John 24:6-11).

To count to one hundred and fifty-three, what clarity of memory is needed, and how unlike "delirium" or "hallucination"!

The number of fishes – one hundred and fifty-three – means, according to the correct interpretation of Bl. Jerome, the number of all the tribes and peoples living in the world, into which the Universal Church will be united. [1064]

XII

Jesus said to them, "Come, dine." None of the disciples dared to ask Him: "Who are You?" – knowing that it was the Lord.

They know, but they are no longer afraid, as they did then, in the Upper Room of Zion, that it is not Him, but someone else – a "bodiless demon", a "ghost", a phantasma. There is no fear anymore – there is only a quiet joy, the same as in that blissfully paradisiacal morning of the coming Kingdom of God. But this paradise is already eternal; This morning is already a sunset day.

Jesus comes, takes bread, and gives it to them; Fish as well.

… And when they were suppering, he said to Simon Peter, Simon Jonah! if you love Me more than they do" (John 21:16),

More than all of them?

If all are offended, it will not be I. (Mark 14:29).

I will lay down my life for Thee...

Will you lay down your life for Me? The shall not crow, until thou shalt deny Me three times (John 13:37),

Peter could have remembered.