Friday, April 17, 2020
The Rev. Rob Stevens
The Collect
Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Gospel
John 21:1-14
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So, Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Reflection
It’s Friday! That was just a PSA to remind you and me what day it is. My routines are so different now. Our family is trying to set up routines and schedules so that we can live in harmony in this strange time. It is challenging to say the least. I wonder if that was what Simon Peter was trying to do when he said to his friends, “I am going fishing.” I imagine he wanted to have some normalcy and have things “get back to the way they were.” I empathize with Peter on this and yet Jesus has other ideas. Peter fishes and as my grandfather taught me, “They call it fishing, not catching.” He caught nothing, then Jesus shows up and changes everything.
I wonder after this crisis has simmered down and we are able to go back to “normal life.” What will that look like? Will we have learned new ways to be Church, community and family? Will we have learned that some of our “normal” ways weren’t that healthy? This all remains to be seen. I hope so…Our days are running together, and life seems like Groundhog Day, but it is Friday and life continues. I pray daily that we may rest in the hope that God is with us (especially now) and may our “new normal” be one that celebrates this with joy and hope. Take good care.