This week, in John’s gospel, we read about the final post-resurrection encounter between Jesus and his followers. Peter and several other disciples go out on the Sea of Tiberius for a night of fishing. Perhaps they go because they need something to take their minds off everything that has happened, or to distract themselves from their fears. They are surely struggling with Jesus’ crucifixion, word that the tomb was empty, Jesus appearing in the locked room, and the threat that the authorities would arrest them next. Maybe they want to just DO something – the physical activity and hard labor will help them as they try to sort out their thoughts and emotions about everything.
The dark and quiet night of hard work on the sea brought no fish. Around dawn, as they drew toward shore, a voice called from the beach: “Children, you have no fish, have you?” When they replied no, the man told them to cast again, and they were suddenly overwhelmed with a huge catch of fish! You probably already know that it was Jesus. On the beach, he gave them a breakfast of bread and fish. After they ate, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” three times. Peter responded each time, “Yes.” Jesus then called him to follow – “Feed my sheep.” This interaction reminds us that while Jesus was in custody, Peter denied he was a follower of Jesus three times. Despite Peter’s denials, Jesus calls him again to return to sharing the good news and caring for the people.
The connection between Peter and Jesus has not been destroyed by Peter’s denial, or by Jesus’ death. In the resurrection, we find the good news of God’s love and forgiveness, despite our failings. Jesus doesn’t criticize or rebuke Peter. He calls him again to follow. Like Peter, there are times we are unable to be faithful. We deny that we are followers of Jesus with the ways we live, how we interact with people, or the priorities where we devote our time and resources.
And yet, Jesus comes to us where we are. We hear him, like Peter and the others heard him call out from the beach. Jesus comes to us without criticism or rebuke for the ways we have failed to follow. Constantly, throughout our lives, Jesus comes to us where we are. He brings abundance, not of fish but of love and hope, forgiveness and compassion, and new life. He asks, do you love me? As we respond yes, Jesus calls us again to care for those who are precious to God.
Following Jesus is not a simple task. We will spend our entire lives learning how to care for each other, discovering how to open our hearts and ourselves to outsiders, finding ways to share the abundance God brings into our lives with the world around us. None of us will ever perfect reaching out in compassion and care or forgiveness. We all struggle to love our neighbor as ourselves. Despite our shortcomings, Jesus calls us again and again and again to the tasks and responsibilities of following. Our connection with God is never broken by our failings.
God’s love for us is always.
Peace,
weekly prayer | Jesus shares breakfast on the beach in John 21