"Feed my Lambs"
John 21: 1-19
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050122.cfm
There is probably no activity that demands more patience than that of fishing, with the exception of golf. You have to play that game constantly to achieve any accuracy. Or so it seems.
Anyone who has gone fishing well knows that despite their
personal efforts, there is no guarantee they will catch anything. The factors may be the location, the weather,
the temperature of the water, or the time of day. Growing up I well remember
summer time on the lakes of northern Wisconsin and part of what we did was take
out a boat and hope we would catch some delicious fresh water bluegill,
sunfish, or the more elusive norther pike or bass. Frankly, it seems we always
did - well a bit of a fish story there.
Today’s Gospel (Jn 21: 1-19) is a favorite
post-resurrection story which finds several of the disciples strangely
returning to their previous way of life.
It may seem a bit out of place and we may wonder how they could have
done so after seeing the risen Lord already twice before. The “ordinary” factor
seems a bit out of character for the situation. Did they just forget what
happened and who appeared to them? Did they give up the disciple thing? This is
a favorite literary device that John uses but surely has some historical basis.
It seems these disciples were in a kind of holding pattern, not really sure
what to do next, so why not go fishing.
Yet, it serves a purpose.
For the disciples, even after the resurrection, it took time for them to
wrap their heads, hearts and minds around its implications. From the shore, in
the early morning light of dawn, they see someone. He suggests: “Cast your net
over the right side of the boat . . .” Maybe this person can see something we
don’t see? So they do and they catch an
abundance, so many fish in the net they “were not able to pull it in.”
Then, the scene dramatically changes: “So the disciple
whom Jesus loved (John), said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’” In that moment of
recognition, they may have remembered a similar event about three years before
when Jesus first called them and told them to do the same, with the same astonishing
results. It’s deja vu all over again.
It is the same Jesus but risen who calls to them and they
all rush to the shore to find an early morning breakfast cooking for them but Peter
remains the first to reach Jesus. He needs a moment to repair the three denials
just a few days earlier. We will hear Jesus reaction.
How often had Jesus fed the hungry crowds, gathered
around a table at dinner time in the home of “sinners,” appeared to the
disciples at Emmaus to break bread, shared a dark moment at the last supper but
now all is light and new life. It is dawn, the early morning light, a new day
begins. This is not the Last Supper on the night before his death it is now the
first breakfast of new life at dawn.
So, the scene in itself is stunning as the disciples sat
there, for the third time, before the risen Lord, when I might assume they were
somewhat speechless. After all, what
could you say to the now risen Lord and in fact it seems John implies they may
have said very little: “None of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’
because they realized it was the Lord.” As further proof this person before
them was the same who walked and taught with them, Jesus: “took the bread and
gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.” Remember what he did not long
before on the hillside before a massive crowd of thousands? Remember how he
took that bread and fish and gave it to them?
(Mark 6 and John 6 for example). Yes, it is the same Christ Jesus who is
now recognized, as Thomas earlier stated, as “Lord and God.” (Jn 20: 27-29).
So, this became a moment for Jesus to speak to them and
Peter in particular. As Peter denied
knowing Jesus just a week or two before, our Lord now asks him: “Do you love
me?” Three times Jesus asks Peter this question and three times Peter says:
“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” This love is an encounter with
fellowship love, (Agape) a commitment that brings about unity and community
among God and his people.
As Jesus offers Peter redemption for his abandonment at
Jesus’ darkest hour, he now offers Peter, and the other disciples as well, the
commission to go and “feed my sheep.” The Apostles may have wondered who would be
“in charge” when Jesus is no longer among them.
Here he tells them, Peter.
Lambs and sheep are certainly images of a shepherd. So here Jesus entrusts to Peter the position
of shepherd over the flock of the Church. What we refer to as papal authority. Although
Jesus alone is the good shepherd Peter will stand in his place after Jesus
ascension from where he will continue to guide the church in the power of the Spirit
to be given.
While Peter is of course first among the disciples, each
of them in their own missionary journey, will plant the seeds of faith and the
foundations of the Church and they will pay for it with their lives as Jesus
did. In spite of their human frailty and ignorance, the risen Lord entrusts the
treasure of the good news to them and to many beyond them.
Our first reading from Acts 5: 27-32 illustrates what an
impressive transformation the resurrection experience finally made for these
crucial men. In spite of fierce opposition and personal threats on their lives,
Peter and the now apostles leave the Sanhedrin as Peter fearlessly states: “We
must obey God rather than men . . . so
they left the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they had been found
worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the (Jesus’) name.”
And this is now brought to us. We too gather around food and drink each
Sunday. We are the people of God, in all
positions of leadership and responsibility, called to pastor God’s people. Whether Pope, Bishop, priest, committed
religious, lay single person or faithful married couple, we all share in that
same missionary call to feed God’s “sheep” each in our own situation and moment
in time.
At the celebration of the Eucharist we gather, we are fed
by his Word and then Christ feeds us with himself. And then we are sent to “announce the Gospel
of the Lord.”
Jesus certainly knew that his disciples could never
accomplish what he asked them to do on their own limited ability. So, the Spirit is promised and eventually
sent to be the keeper of truth and divine guide as we each discern what it is
we have been sent to preach and live in the name of Christ the risen Lord.
So, maybe fishing is one activity that can teach us
patience. But, it was also used by God
to change the world. Think of that the
next time you look at a lake, river, or the vast Ocean itself or maybe even
cast out for a catch.
May your people exult for ever, O God,
in renewed youthfulness of spirit,
so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our
adoption,
we may look forward in confident hope
to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
(Collect of Mass)
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