A wonderful reflection on today’s gospel (Jn 21:1-14) in my daily missal from Pope St. Gregory the Great (604):

“A person might inquire: why did the Lord after His resurrection stand on the shore while the disciples were tiring themselves on the sea?  Before the resurrection He walked upon the waves in the sight of His disciples.  This mystery is easily solved if we look beneath for the reason.  What else does that sea represent except the present age — an age that spends itself in upsetting quarrels on the surging waves of this passing life?  But the solid shore — is that not a symbol of the land of eternal rest?  Because the disciples were still being tossed around by the waves of this mortal life, they were tiring themselves on the sea.  But because our Redeemer had already raised Himself up out of the corruptibility of the flesh.  He stood on the shore after His resurrection.”