Goin' Fishing?
Easter 3c, John 21:1-19 with Acts 9:22-30 in the b.g. (April 18, 2010)
Doesn't "Easter" seem like a long time ago? I mean we are back into our routines. I am getting up early on Sunday mornings again to write my sermons. You are back at full weeks of work and or running around doing the many things you need to do. The kids are crying, so many people are sick or struggling with health. Even the realities of taxes are upon us.
And this morning we see Peter and six others of those early disciples back, FISHING! Only two weeks ago we heard that Peter was amazed after he had run to the tomb in Luke's gospel to see those empty grave clothes. It was incredible. Only last Sunday we heard how Thomas had been moved from doubt to personal faith as Jesus appeared to him and the others in that room. Upon seeing and hearing the risen Jesus Thomas confessed that Jesus is, "My Lord and my God!"
So those early disciples had amazing experiences of the risen Lord. Death and evil were limited. But what were those early disciples to do next?
They aren't sure. So they gravitate back to what they normally would do, what they thought they "knew".
Aren't we like that? When we aren't sure what to do next, don't we often do what we usually have done before: drink coffee, work, watch TV, surf the net, text?
But then as now, life as "usual" is anything but easy. To be sure there are wonders in our lives: new births, the love of people, even sacrifices that others make because they are moved to care about and for us. But in the midst of such wonder and beauty there is also pain and death. On Thursday I met some colleagues. Among them was one whom I love and have deep respect for. I just learned that two years ago his marriage of 38 years had been terminated. His pain is still evident. I was blown away. And then, this morning, I arrived at the church to open my emails. There was a letter from a young man, whom I love like a son. I was privileged to marry he and his wife some years ago. They had so many abilities going for them individually and together. But now in his email he relates how they have grown apart and no longer live together. I found myself near tears for both of them.
Can you identify with this: with both the wonder of life and the pain of life and death? Does our conviction that Jesus is risen inform, shape, enable us in the midst of such wonder and pain. To be sure the power of death continues to encroach seeking to own and limit us. What shall we, what will we do now?
Do we dare to watch the disciples, to be caught up by, drawn into their "story"? Peter and the other six toil all night. These are not recreational fishermen. They are like prairie farmers. They need their harvest. They depend upon a catch so that there will be enough to eat today.
But that night there isn't enough. There aren't any fish caught at all! Still, the sun comes up. They are drawing near shore, literally ALL IN. In the distance they catch a glimpse of a figure on the beach. He states the obvious, "no fish, huh?" Their faces may have belied that fact or the way the boats was sailing or?
But then this figure on the shore gives them a strange instruction. He invites them (commands them) to cast their nets on the other side of their boat. That was a side that they normally would have never cast into. Now, even though they are exhausted, even though they don't recognize this figure on the beach, they obey him. Amazingly, now their catch is so bountiful that they can't haul it in. They have been moved from famine to feast in merely a few minutes.
Now one of them looks at that figure on the beach and recognizes who he is. It is the Lord! It's hard to say why they didn't recognize him before. Sometimes when we are down, when we ourselves are all in, when we are preoccupied with making a living, we may not see him either. Or, especially when the direction we have been working so hard at, isn't working and we need to go in another direction, we may not recognize that it is His voice beckoning us to try something very different.
As those seven are eating with the risen Jesus they all begin to recognize him. This is surprising at some level because they are just eating fish and bread.
Now Jesus speaks to Peter. Do we remember Peter? Some days ago he was so bold to say that even if the rest abandoned Jesus, he, Peter, would follow Jesus to his death. But then in the midst of Jesus' trial Peter denies even knowing Jesus, not once or even twice, but three times. It is in the aftermath of Peter's denial that Jesus is killed!
How might Peter have felt then? How do you feel when you fail others that you deeply care for and about – your spouse, your friend, your parent, your child? You say something to them that cuts to their heart. You forget a promise and don't come through for them. You allow other things, things that aren't as important as they are to occupy the majority of your time, your commitment. We know these experiences. We may try to forget – but they are real – and the pain is real. Often the consequences are lasting.
But now the risen Jesus, standing or sitting around that charcoal fire, the meal of fish and bread asks Peter point blank, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" I'm not sure what the or who the "these" were. Perhaps it was fishing. Or maybe it was does Peter love Jesus more than the other disciples or even more than the other disciples love Jesus. Whatever it was Peter is able to answer, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus than says to him, "Feed my lambs." It is Jesus' way of saying to Peter – if you love me, well then feed, nurture those I have been called to gather up, to protect, to bring new life to.
But that isn't the end of Jesus' questions or instructions for Peter. Jesus asks Peter a second time, "Do you love me Simon?" Peter says to him, "yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus then instructs him, "Tend my sheep". And finally, a third time, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter is hurt but replies, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus gives him a 3rd commandment, "Feed my sheep!"
I have asked myself – why does Jesus ask Peter 3 times if Peter loves him? Many scholars feel that this in some ways reverses Peter's 3 fold denial. That may well be true. But beyond that I am convinced that we all need to be reminded firstly of God's love for us in Jesus, but then also of the call to reciprocate that love. Such love is not a warm fuzzy feeling – that we can somehow fall out of. NO! This love of God in Jesus is a commitment beyond and through death to never let us go. This commitment is not only for us, but for the entire world.
As we experience the love and forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ we are ordered, compelled, pleaded with, to love and serve others – Jesus' sheep.
To be sure – we often fail. And I do not in any manner shape or form want to belittle that. It is serious. And there are consequences all over our lives, all over this planet and all over the universe when we fail.
But because of Christ – that is not the end of it. Not at all! Jesus takes the initiative to find Peter. Jesus recommissions Peter. Jesus wills both to commission and equips us. Our prior failures are only the "end" if we refuse to glimpse Jesus, if we continually plug our ears and harden our hearts. And then that is only our end – which by the grace of God can reversed in a matter of moments. See Paul and Mary and so many others.
There is tremendous hope – not because of us – but because of Christ who doesn't give up on us or this world – EVER.
Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia. Even now he is calling us to sometimes cast our "nets", our very living, in a different direction. God grant us the grace to see, to hear and to obey Jesus . Easter is now! Amen.