April 14, 2013 3rd Sunday of Easter

John 21:1-19

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
    4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
    5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
      "No," they answered.
    6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
    7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
    10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
    11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
      "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
      Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
    16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
      He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
      Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
    17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
      Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
    Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

“They Knew It Was The Lord”

There is a knowing which is too deep for words; a knowing within which defies logic.

Such knowing comes from living with and discovering in the experiences of life that which is too deep for words.  Which comes out of life’s experiences.

Of such is faith, a knowing which comes out of experiencing the richness of God’s grace and the depth of God’s love.


 “Do You Love Me?

Jesus question was the first step in Peters forgiveness.  It was Jesus way to tell Peter he still wanted him; he still loved him;  he had forgiven him.

Forgiveness often begins with our loving enough to want to forgive.
When we want justice more than forgiveness that is just what we will get - our pound of flesh but no future to build on.

Forgiveness is risky business.  It can be abused.  Yet we are called to want to forgive and not give up until we do!
To love Jesus is to be open to forgiveness, both coming and going.


 “I’m Going Fishing”

Going fishing is a way to get away; yet we never get away from what has happened to make us who we are and to believe what we believe.

God’s Word has touched us in Jesus.  We cannot run away from that!  We cannot live as if there is no resurrection, no baptism, no church, no sacrament, no grace to live by.  We cannot live as if it never happened.

We live as resurrection people!  Even when we go fishing!

This means we have to struggle to forgive when we don’t feel like forgiving.
We have to associate with those we don’t always like to be around, seeking to be inclusive not exclusive.
We have to be gracious when we don’t feel like being gracious and would rather be judgmental.  And we have to give something of our material possessions, even when we don’t have much to give.