Gospel

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.

Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. 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.

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. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 21:1-19

Reflection

So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. Acts 5. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21

We may often find ourselves in awe of those Apostles who were so filled with the Spirit as they left this humiliating experience of being hauled up before the religious leaders and left rejoicing - seeing it as a privileged opportunity to share an intimacy with their Lord, in the dishonor of it all. We Have often prayed, as we did today, that we might be drawn into a deeper love for our Lord and into a deeper freedom and rejoice, rather than grumble, at experiences which appear costly to us, in service of his name.

This gospel is one of my favorite resurrection stories beginning with Peter deciding he is going to return to fishing - his former life. I am always struck by how quickly, after a religious celebration, even a religious experience, like Easter, that I so quickly return to my former life and its patterns. The joy of Easter doesn't seem to last, nor does its fire and mission.

I love it that Jesus re-calls Peter by repeating the way he called him the first time. (I don't know whether it is true, but I like to assume that John's community knew there was a tradition - in Luke 5 - whether they read it or not.) So, it is wonderful to imagine that Jesus calls Peter to leave his fishing and to follow him - after the resurrection - the same way he first called him. Both times, after a night of fishing, when Peter's abilities didn't net any fish, Jesus' simple direction filled the nets to bursting. And, Peter recognizes that it is his Lord, risen from the dead. May we be reminded that we often need to be renewed in our call, and our ability to recognize the Lord right before us, by remembering how we were first called. We need to be renewed and re-animated by the memory that Jesus has much more power than we do. And, especially when we sense that our nets are pretty empty, we need to jump in the water and swim to the shore to get closer to the one who can fill any empty nets - the Lord who can fill any emptiness.

When Peter gets to shore, Jesus is making him breakfast - providing food and nourishment is another reminder of who he is - and Jesus asks him to add Peter's catch to the grill. We should never forget that our real food is from the Lord. And always remember that his wonderful gifts to me will be part of that banquet.

Now comes the really great part. Jesus asks Peter three times if Peter loves him. Peter is sad that Jesus asks him three times - surely remembering the three times he denied even knowing Jesus out of fear of getting caught up in his arrest and crucifixion. Each time Peter professes that he genuinely loves the Lord - not only answering the question but deepening his response each time, Jesus tells him what the love means: "Feed my sheep." Loving Jesus means loving those he cares for. Though I've denied knowing him time after time - or seriously forgetting about it now and again - Jesus leads us into realizing and deepening in a sense of how much we really do love him. And, the real fruit of that communion is a love which leads to imitation. If we fall in love with Jesus, we fall in love with the way he is. If we fall in love with his style of loving - desiring to imitate him in feeding his sheep. Our desire to be with him grows into a desire to be like him.

Finally, Jesus reminds Peter that in his past he went where he wanted to go and did what he wanted to do. This intimacy with Jesus will involve a communion with him in surrender to the Father's plan. It is so easy for me to think that my life, and its direction, is in my hands. It is consoling to accept that my life is in God's hands. That surrender is the closest way we can find the intimacy with Jesus that we really desire. When we hear Jesus say "follow me," We would like to say "Yes, Amen, thank you" more and more deeply, sensing what it means with deeper freedom and rejoicing at the privilege of sharing in the journey of my Savior and Lord.

Julie Leonard - Welfare Leader / Religious Education Leader