We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 4, 2016.
Reading After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon 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. 4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He 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. 7That 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. 8But 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. 9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11So 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. 12Jesus 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. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:1-19) Reflection In this season of Easter, we continue looking at Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances. This, I must admit, is one of my favorites. This time, the risen Christ decides to join his disciples in, what some call, “The Last Breakfast.” Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two others are fishing at dawn but not doing too well. They look up, and there is Jesus standing on the beach, having made a fire and cooking some breakfast. Jesus, once again, tells them where to find the fish and, low and behold, their net was overflowing. The net was not even torn even though it was very full. More fish were fried and the disciples once again enjoyed a meal in Jesus’ presence. Scene Two: Breakfast is over. The disciples and their Lord most likely were engaged in some conversation over their morning meal. As the talk was winding down, Jesus and Peter had a “heart-to-heart.” Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, and Peter replied, “Yes” each time. And Jesus told him three times, in various ways, to feed his sheep. He also predicted Peter’s martyrdom and said once again, “Follow me.” We don’t know why the disciples were fishing. Perhaps they had returned to work after being gone on their bereavement leave. Or perhaps they were fishing to “get away from it all.” Do you perhaps have a place to go to retreat from life’s routines and troubles? For me and for many others, Camp Mount Luther is that place. It is our “Sea of Tiberius” where we go to experience the Risen Lord, just like the disciples did on that post-resurrection morning. Because it is in this place, at the breakfast table, at the pond, and doing many other things, that I truly Jesus in our midst! --Chad Hershberger Prayer Help us to see you wherever we go, Lord, and be in our midst. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present.
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