Tilapia
is one of the three main types of fish caught in Biblical times from
the Sea of Galilee. At that time they were called "musht, or commonly now
even "St. Peter's fish".
The
name "St. Peter's fish" comes from the story in the Gospel of Matthew
about the apostle Peter catching a fish that carried a coin in its
mouth, though the passage does not name the fish.
And
if we go on a tour to the Sea of Galilee, then one of the items in the
itinerary would be a meal of the fish at one of the restaurants by the
Sea of Galilee.
It
is a common fish, but it became the means of solving a sticky problem
between the tax-collectors and Jesus, with Peter being stuck in the
middle.
The fish that he caught that had a coin in its mouth resolved the problem. It was so ordinary and yet so amazing.
Whereas
the vision of Ezekiel in the 1st reading was so astounding and awesome
with the glory of the Lord shown in majesty and splendour.
But for most of us living an ordinary life and being ordinary people, that kind of vision would be almost out of the question.
Yet God will still reveal Himself in the ordinary situations in our lives and in the ordinary people around us.
So when we meet with a problem, let us remember that it was a fish that solved the problem for Peter.
And God will give the solution to our problems through very ordinary things.