Thomas; catch of fish; come and breakfast (John 20:22–21:13)

dead and whatever is more perfect.

Through what he breathed and gave spirit, he showed that it is consubstantial with him and not alien and proceeding through him from the Father, which nerved them to do what is pleasing to God and to know the power of the mystery according to God. And the breathing made the renewal for humanity and taking again the “according to the image” which Adam had before the transgression. And saying he sends, he sent ahead of time to confirm that this will be for all at the appointed time.

And Thomas, though absent, obtained the Spirit’s grace through the breathing; for upon the whole choir of the apostles the Lord poured out the grace.

Beyond measure Thomas, busying himself through thinking it impossible, is charged. Therefore he did not say only “unless I see,” but “unless I handle,” lest what is seen be a phantom. Hearing then from the disciples that he took a lance wound, he was persuaded even without seeing, but as beyond reason he disbelieved the resurrection. He said it not so much as disbelieving as grieving that he too was not counted worthy of the sight. And by economy Thomas disbelieved, so that through him we all may know that the crucified body rose; for by seeking to see the wounds about the flesh, he was seeking whether that very flesh rose.

For the shock of the signs almost draws even the unwilling who see toward faith.

He shows himself having wounds and allows him to handle him; for by condescension he so appeared to Thomas though freed of every thickness of body and become light, so that he might be persuaded that it was the same crucified body. And from using Thomas’s words he shows that even when Thomas was saying these things he was present. And even if bodies are raised incorruptible and lacking nothing in the new resurrection, yet so that no word of unbelief may remain, as Thomas sought to see, so he showed; and not only Thomas but also the angels ignorant of the economy of the incarnation and saying: “Who is this who comes from Edom” and again: “What are these wounds in the midst of your hands?” teaching he says: “with which I was struck in the house of my beloved” (Zechariah 13:6).

The whole contemplation of this section is as follows. Those before the disciples passing the time in darkness of demonic error caught nothing or very few, which is in place of nothing; nor those worshipping in types and shadow, where they themselves despising the law obeyed human commandments; but also the throng of the nations was un-netted, not receiving the divine lessons. But when the “sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2) came, hungering for humans’ salvation, he found nothing edible among humans and says to cast the evangelical word, which is the right teaching, compared with which the law and the prophets are understood as left; and by the grace of the one who commanded they drew many; for the wonder upon this surpasses the apostles’ strength.

Peter draws the spiritual net with the others, bringing the catch to Christ. And the hundred are understood as the fullness of the nations, the fifty as the race from Israel saved according to election, and the three invent the showing of the holy Trinity, to whose glory the life of the faithful caught is understood conjoined.

“Come, breakfast” has a riddle in the word: that after the toils rest and food and enjoyment will succeed the saints.

He did not pray now breaking the bread, showing that