Scripture Scribbles: May 1, 2022

 

the Gospel

 

Jn 21:1-19 or 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.

He revealed himself in this way.

Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,

Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,

Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We also will come with you.”

So they went out and got into the boat,

but that night they caught nothing.

When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;

but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”

They answered him, “No.”

So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat

and you will find something.”

So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in

because of the number of fish.

So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,

he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,

and jumped into the sea.

The other disciples came in the boat,

for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,

dragging the net with the fish.

When they climbed out on shore,

they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”

So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore

full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.

Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”

And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”

because they realized it was the Lord.

Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,

and in like manner the fish.

This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples

after being raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He then said to Simon Peter a second time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

Jesus said to him the third time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a 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.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,

you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;

but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,

and someone else will dress you

and lead you where you do not want to go.”

He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.

And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

 

the devotion

 

“I am going fishing.” Everything in this scene begins the same way it has always been. Shores Peter knew so well. A boat whose sounds and feel must have been so familiar. The water lapping against its sides, the creaking wood, the sound of heavy wet nets on the deck. The long night laboring in the boat. The cold hungry morning.

And yet.

Nothing is the same.

I imagine that night they were thinking of all that had happened as they worked. The messiah had come. The words of the prophets fulfilled. The disciples had experienced so much– Jesus’ way of teaching and healing, the revelation of his divinity, his cruel murder. His resurrection. Jesus had appeared to them twice in the locked upper room and given the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And yet on this morning, he comes to them in this ordinary, familiar scene. Like the day Peter met him, he makes himself known to them in the superabundance of the catch.

And then he invites them to warm up and eat breakfast.

This invitation to intimacy and sustenance is for me, too. Like Peter, I have denied him. And like Peter, he is inviting me to come and begin anew with him. Like the disciples on the boat, I am tired and hungry and ache to see him again. And like them, he wants to fill me with everything I need and cover me in the super abundance of his mercy, healing and love.

 

Today’s devotion is written by Lucia Parker.

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Scripture Scribbles: May 8, 2022

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Scripture Scribbles: April 24, 2022