Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?" They answered him, "No."So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." 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. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord.
(John 21: 3-12)
This was the gospel last May 17, and these lines are the ones that struck me, particularly the verse "When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea." Surely, Peter waited for this day to come after the terrible action he did while Jesus was with them.
But as we all know, it's not only Peter who failed the greatest but also Judas, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Given the facts that these two betrayed Him who is the Almighty, what was the thing that separated them?
From what we know, Peter was a fisherman. Therefore, not that learned. I guess he never went to school and just spent his life fishing. And during the course that he was with Jesus, we knew him more as someone who just says things that was on his head and not thinking about it first. Thus most of the time, he would be rebuked by Our Lord. I guess he was also teased and joked around by the other disciples.
On the other hand, Judas, for me, was a very learned person. He knew that through Him, Israel would be saved from the Romans. He knew that He can end their reign and live as free people. Moreover, I believe that he was a business man by nature (or I guess a tax collector) because he knew how much an item costs.
However, they had something in common during the Passion of Jesus: Despair and feeling of unworthy for forgiveness. This was felt by Peter when he denied Jesus three times. When His prophecy was fulfilled, he went away in despair. In the same manner, Judas felt the same way when he betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. When he realized the wrong that he did, he returned the money back to the Pharisees.
You may ask this question: Why is it that Peter became a saint and Judas found himself in the mouth of Satan (according to Dante's Inferno)?
Here's my answer: Peter waited for the Lord's promise of resurrection while Judas gave in to his grief.
He allowed himself to be manipulated by Satan using his emotions.
He never focused on the Lord nor did he accepted the Lord's forgiveness and love.
On the other hand, Peter knew that by the time that he will meet the Risen Lord, he will ask for forgiveness. And this he did as mentioned in the Gospel above.
My friends, the Mercy of our Lord is so great that even the most unforgivable sin man can commit to his neighbor can be washed away if we allow to be submerged to His mercy and His love.
He is waiting for you.
