This chapter is about one of Jesus’ post resurrection
appearances and for that reason one of my favorite scenes from the New
Testament. It is certainly one of the
most joyful encounters between Jesus and his disciples. Both because it is so reassuring to see and
hear from Jesus after the crucifixion and because of his human nature on
display as he fixes a breakfast on the beach for his friends, frustrated by an
unprofitable night of hard work. Fr.
Martin points out that the story starts out with the disciples, returning to
their old ways. They are out fishing but
have caught nothing. Conclusion, they
can’t accomplish anything on their own.
Fr. Martin then moves us into the heart of this story form
his point of view, that is, its focus on the necessity of forgiveness. We are reminded of Peter’s denial of Jesus. Three times Peter swore that he didn’t even
know the Lord. This is as serious a sin
as it gets. By human standards probably
unforgivable. There is a lesson here for
all of us as we work our way through the last few weeks of Lent.
Jesus knows what Peter needs and he seeks him out to make
him whole again, to set things right.
Jesus want to restore him to ministry.
Fr. Martin makes note of the fact that with God forgiveness comes
painlessly, no humiliation, no revenge.
God’s mercy proceeds from his love and bound up in it. Unlike human beings who struggle to forgive
and never seem to forget, God does both.
The Lord’s final words to Peter are the same ones he started
with three years before “follow me”. The
evangelist John wants the readers of his Gospel, ourselves, to be drawn into
the mystical work of the Holy Spirit, acting through Jesus, the work of moving
through forgiveness to restoration onto mission.
This is what it means to be a Christian, being drawn to
Jesus as the source of the Father’s love acting in our world, drawn to him in
spite of our sinfulness, like Peter jumping off the boat to greet the very one
he had betrayed. We are drawn to Jesus
as he calls us ashore to join him in his work of making the Kingdom of God
present in our lives and those we meet.
“It is the Lord” says John at first sight, calling us to “follow me.”
Questions to Ponder
- When was the last time we felt the presence of Jesus close at hand offering his unlimited mercy?
- Are we able to approach the Lord as a wronged friend seeking his forgiveness or is something blocking our way?
- When faced with a difficult time feeling alone and abandoned with our problems did we finally take notice that the Lord was there all the time just waiting for us to see him?
Deacon Mike McKenna
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