All Things Made New
Dear Friends,
Today, we read about Jesus’ last post-resurrection encounter with his disciples in the Gospel of John, a story that is fondly called, “Breakfast on the Beach.” I love this story – there is nothing more delightful than imagining the risen Jesus preparing a barbeque on the shore for his tired and hungry friends.
The story begins with Jesus’ disciples heading out to the water to go fishing, back to the work they did before Jesus came into their lives. Unfortunately, their fishing expedition is not successful, so they begin to return to shore. On their way in, a man on the beach beckons them to cast their net on the other side, which they do. Miraculously, the net is filled to bursting with fish, 132 to be exact. As in most of the post-resurrection encounters, the disciples don’t recognize this man at first, but after the abundant catch, it dawns on the disciple Peter that it is risen Jesus: “It is the Lord,” he cries out.
“Come and have breakfast,” is the risen one’s next invitation to his disciples. Some readers of this gospel story focus on the miracle of an overabundance of fish suddenly manifesting at Jesus’ instruction after a night of fishing that has been for naught. But for me, the miracle is in God’s abiding presence in simple care and hospitality. Jesus lights a fire and begins preparing a meal of fish and bread for his friends after a hard night of work. “Come, and be fed.”
Jesus recognizes his friends’ need for food along with other human needs for shelter, security, and fruitful work. But there is more. He touches their deep desire for heartfelt belonging and inspired purpose. In Jesus’ presence, empty handedness becomes plenty. Despondency is transformed into joy. Fear and doubt are honed into courage and commitment. What would it be like to imagine this kind of relationship in our own lives, in which we are day to day miraculously fed with an overflowing love?
It is interesting that Jesus in his resurrected glory is not now in some distant ethereal realm. He is right back where he always was when alive in an ordinary manner: inviting his disciples to a life-changing encounter with the Holy and asking them to join in the work of God’s reconciling love.
After the meal Jesus asks Simon Peter if he loves him. He asks three times. We know from an earlier gospel story that Peter had denied Jesus three times, his fear getting the best of him. That doesn’t seem to matter to Jesus now. He only wants Peter to be with him. Jesus wants to transform a broken heart into a heart given for the world. “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my lambs,” Jesus says as Peter tells him three times that he loves him.
The invitation here for me is to look for the risen Christ in the everyday and see the possibility of all things made new; to see in my own and another’s deepest vulnerability those things which cry out to be healed and loved; to listen out for ways to feed and be fed in all that we are and do.
Practicing resurrection,
Amelie+
