I have never been much of a fisherman. I would rather swim with fish than fish for them─although I love fresh fish for dinner! I have never had to catch fish in order to eat, or make a living catching them in order to eat, like Jesus’ disciple Simon Peter.
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Jesus’ third appearance to the disciples after his resurrection. Peter decides to go fishing; the others join him. Maybe they had nothing better to do, or maybe they were hungry. In any case, they return to what they did before they met the Lord. Jesus meets them on that seashore, reminds them of their mission, and of his love and mercy and forgiveness.
The fishing party was unsuccessful in their catch until they follow Jesus’ instructions: a paradigm for all believers! Their nets were empty until the Lord told them where to cast them. They are successful at fishing this time, they join Jesus and they eat together—Jesus “breaking the bread” and sharing the fish. (He eats with them because ghosts do not eat.)
Jesus asks three times (like the cock crowing) if Simon Peter loves Him. In Jesus’ questioning and his answering of Peter, he gives explicit directions to us all: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.” Jesus tells us clearly that love of Him is expressed by feeding and tending the hungry and lost—great food for thought for us during this “Year of Mercy!” (Or any year…)
So, where do you cast your net in order to fish as the Lord instructed? By example and behavior do we cast nets of faith in the communities in which we live, work and play? People are fed and tended by many things; and they are hungry for more than just physical sustenance—they also hunger for spiritual nourishment.
The Gospel reading ends with the simplest of instructions; yet also the hardest of instructions from Jesus. He says, “Follow me.” Keep casting!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Jesus’ third appearance to the disciples after his resurrection. Peter decides to go fishing; the others join him. Maybe they had nothing better to do, or maybe they were hungry. In any case, they return to what they did before they met the Lord. Jesus meets them on that seashore, reminds them of their mission, and of his love and mercy and forgiveness.
The fishing party was unsuccessful in their catch until they follow Jesus’ instructions: a paradigm for all believers! Their nets were empty until the Lord told them where to cast them. They are successful at fishing this time, they join Jesus and they eat together—Jesus “breaking the bread” and sharing the fish. (He eats with them because ghosts do not eat.)
Jesus asks three times (like the cock crowing) if Simon Peter loves Him. In Jesus’ questioning and his answering of Peter, he gives explicit directions to us all: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.” Jesus tells us clearly that love of Him is expressed by feeding and tending the hungry and lost—great food for thought for us during this “Year of Mercy!” (Or any year…)
So, where do you cast your net in order to fish as the Lord instructed? By example and behavior do we cast nets of faith in the communities in which we live, work and play? People are fed and tended by many things; and they are hungry for more than just physical sustenance—they also hunger for spiritual nourishment.
The Gospel reading ends with the simplest of instructions; yet also the hardest of instructions from Jesus. He says, “Follow me.” Keep casting!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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