The disciples cast the net, and they are not able to haul it all in because there are so many fish: 153 large fish, to be exact. This number is intriguing. Saint Augustine figured out that the number 153 is btained when all of the integers from 1 to 17 are added together, a mathematical fact that suggests the completeness of the number 153 itself. Others have suggested that the number is a symbol of the Trinity, or a sign of the totality of the church. At the very least, it describes an enormous catch, one that points to the abundance of Jesus' gifts.
