Easter is now a few weeks behind us and this morning’s Gospel reading finds us, appropriately enough, with the disciples also just a few weeks after Easter. It’s an interesting section of John’s Gospel because it is the postlude, if you will. John’s Gospel has already concluded with resurrection stories of Jesus and the disciples. Some scholars believe that this entire section is an addition to the original Gospel… An add on… Who knows…?
This “second ending” for John provides and interesting parallel to the start for John. In John’s telling, Jesus is first recognized when he responds to a critical shortage of wine at a certain wedding in Cana by transforming water – and it’s not just wine that is provided,
its vast quantities of excellent wine. Jesus tries to keep a lid on it, but people’s eyes are opened, and at least a few see Jesus for who he is.
Now here in the aftermath of crucifixion and resurrection Jesus appears to the disciples, but they don’t know him – just as the wedding guests at Cana did not know Jesus. In previous resurrection encounters Jesus has been in Jerusalem. But here he is at the sea of Tiberias – also known as the sea of Galilee. Cana, as it happens, is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away. This is about where it all began. What started with changing a shortage of wine into abundance now continues with changing a shortage of fish into an abundance.
I don’t think John is just engaging in clever point-of-unity story telling. For the story that he gives us is complex and unclear. Either it is a story of terrible backsliding on the part of the disciples, or a story of deep and powerful symbolism. My guess is that it is both.
The backsliding story is right there on the surface. Jesus has been crucified and has risen. But somehow the disciples have wandered back to their old lives as fisherman – and not too successful fishermen at that. It appears that they have given up and gone home. Jesus has commissioned the disciples to carry the Gospel, the good news, to the world, but here they are back at their nets on the sea of Galilee. They have gone in a circle. Nothing has changed.
The story of deep symbols sits on top of that. Jesus has sent the disciples out into the world – he has made them fish for people. But here they are in the dark of night not even able to fish for fish, let alone people. Jesus, the light, the bright Morningstar, comes with
the dawn and now the nets are nearly destroyed because there are too many fish. In their own darkness the disciples can do little. With the light of Christ, all things are possible.
As at Cana, it is the miracle of abundance that opens the disciple’s eyes and they recognize Jesus.
John adds a rather comical moment… When Peter realizes that it is Jesus and that he, Peter, is naked, he does two things… he puts on a garment and he jumps in the water. Peter just can’t wait to get to Jesus. He’s so enthusiastic he jumps in the water and rushes to shore, while the other folks are left to
slowly bring in the heavily laden boat. Peter is impetuous.
When they all get to shore it’s time for breakfast – fresh fish and fresh bread. We know the story of “the Last Supper” that becomes the model for our Eucharist… but here in John’s Gospel, this is the last meal, not supper but breakfast. This is the last time the disciples eat with Jesus. This could have been chosen as the model for our Eucharist… except then we’d be having bread and fish. I have to say I’m glad we went with an earlier meal and settled on bread and wine.
To me there are two things we need to realize.
First – we live in a world of abundance. Too often we live in a mindset of poverty… that we don’t have enough… Not enough wine… not enough fish… The greed and avarice this breeds destroys our society and our souls. If I don’t have enough, then I can’t give to those in need because then I will have even less. I can’t help others until I have enough… except I never have enough.
The richest people on earth strive and struggle to get even more. And that leaves a great number of people without food, without safe drinking water, living in retched conditions, and suffering. We live in a world of plenty – something that has not been true in the past. We have enough food to feed everyone. We have enough resources to house and clothe everyone. But we live in a mindset of scarcity. This is not a faithful way to live the Gospel.
Second – Jesus is always with us. Perhaps the disciples got discouraged and went back to what they knew before Jesus – back to their lives as fisherman. But Jesus has not abandoned them. Their faith may be weak, but Jesus is faithful. And Jesus arrives to strengthen the disciples.
Now, some two thousand years later, we still live by faith. And we are still aware that Jesus refreshes our faith in various ways. At times we face doubts, questions, perhaps a sense of uselessness or even failure in this endeavor to follow Jesus. That is OK. Turning away from Jesus just gives us an opportunity to turn back to Jesus – and we know from the Gospels that Jesus always and joyfully welcomes us back.
This morning’s reading goes a little further. We have this conversation between Jesus and Peter – who was so excited to see Jesus that he rushed to shore. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him more than these – and the meaning of the question is a bit unclear. Does Peter love Jesus more than the other disciples love Jesus? Or does Peter love Jesus more than he loves his fellow disciples? Perhaps it doesn’t matter.
Peter insists that he loves Jesus and Jesus has a simple response: Feed my lambs. We get three versions of the question and each time Peter insists that he loves Jesus. Remember at the time of the crucifixion that Peter has denied even knowing Jesus three times…
Some folks want to hear Jesus command to feed or tend the sheep as a way of putting Peter in charge – Jesus, the good shepherd, is passing on that duty to Peter, with the other disciples (and by extension the formative church) being the flock. And if your goal is to assume authority it’s a good understanding. But John’s gospel is not really concerned with developing church leadership.
In the context of John’s gospel, Jesus has been clear that our love of God will be visible in our actions. We will be known by our love. Jesus has just demonstrated his love of the disciples in an abundance of fish and bread for breakfast. Jesus has told the disciples that they are to love others as he has loved them.
We’re not meant to simply wait and watch for Jesus to show up. There is a quote attributed to Saint Francis; “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” The only thing we know for sure is that Francis didn’t say this… but it’s still a good guide. Our lives, our actions, our deeds must show the Gospel. If they don’t, then are words are pointless.
Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, defend those who are defenseless, care for the sick and comfort those who are sorrowful. By doing these things we live the Gospel of God’s love
and, in so doing, we share that Gospel with those around us.
The disciples left their old lives as fishermen to follow Jesus. But here at the end of John’s Gospel we find the disciples back at their nets. I think this is exactly where they are supposed to be. It’s not exotic and it’s not heroic. But God’s Kingdom is built daily by simple, faithful acts. Their faithful lives as fishermen is what God desires… an ordinary faith.
So, we, the successors of these various disciples, are called to attend to daily, mundane things, but in a way that witnesses to God’s abundant love and grace. In this way the world is transformed.
Br Scott Wesley in the world 