April 10, 2016, the third Sunday after Easter

Fishing is a strange way to pass the time. For some it is a hobby. For some it is a way of life. I used to fish just to get out of the house, and have an excuse to lean against a tree and rest. It was never about the fish. I wonder why Peter goes back home to Galilee to fish? This is a story about the resurrection that happens after the all the news and confusion of Easter. Maybe Peter has had enough and he needs to sort himself out. He goes back to what he knows. "I'm going fishing." His friends say, "We're going too."

They've seen Jesus. They don't know what o make of all this. Peter doesn't have a clue about sharing the good news. He knows about boats and nets and fishing, so that is what he does. They fish all night and catch nothing. (Maybe this is a sign that he needs to follow another career path.) They see a man on the shore cooking breakfast. "Hey kids! How's the fishing?" They tell him they haven't caught a thing. "Cast the net to right, then you'll find some." They nets are full and they recognize Jesus.

Peter throws on some clothes and jumps in the water and rushes to meet Jesus. Jesus is right there, cooking breakfast. He eats with them. He talks to them. They are glad. Everything is OK.

Jesus takes Peter aside. He speaks directly, face-to-face, eye-to-eye. He asks, "Do you love me?" Peter responds, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus asks three times. Peter responds three times. Is Jesus giving him a chance to make up for his denials? Who needs to be encouraged? There are many commentators who reflect on this. There are different ways that "love" is used. Does Peter really love Jesus?

Jesus urges love all the time. Jesus is patient in his teaching. He hopes we understand. He gives us the example of his own sacrifice and his own suffering. He shows us what love is. Whatever the good news is, it must be wrapped up in love. Jesus tells Peter that love is shown in feeding or tending the sheep. Jesus doesn't urge Peter to offer correct teaching or to construct convincing arguments. There is no discussion about moral purity (except perhaps the need to forgive.) Jesus tells Peter to love, and to show that's love through service.

That service will not lead to accomplishment or glory in the usual sense. Peter will be honored in his service - but that honor comes at a cost. It will cost him his life. We know Peter's end and we know that it is the story he has to follow. Peter gives everything and he also gets everything. Peter is restored to his true self. He becomes everything we know he was not. Peter ends with faith and trust. He is led just as he learns to follow.

We can't miss that we also reflect on the conversion of our patron saint. Paul was not always an apostle. He had an earlier life full of zeal against the church. Paul was a rigorous Pharisee and a proud Roman citizen. He saw the church as a threat to order and as blasphemy to God. He is knocked off his horse and blinded - and sees the truth. Saul becomes Paul. He becomes blind and weak. He regains his sight and joins the church. It will take three years before God begins to use him as a special messenger to the Gentiles - to our world.

We are far removed from the first Easter. It is difficult for us to believe. It wasn't much easier for those who lived through those events. That's OK. Our work is not to force our own certainty. Jesus always comes to us. We meet Jesus where we are - because he comes and finds us. Jesus doesn't wait for the perfect or most gifted person to come along. Jesus simply finds people like us. Jesus touches us and transforms us. Jesus shows us truth we don't want to see. Sometimes we rejoice - sometimes we have to be knocked down to see.

Jesus gives us good words and truth that can heal us. We don't have to be clever or charismatic. We have to offer the truth we know to the people we know. Instead of articulate expressions of faith, we offer love in relationships. We seek to know the stranger as a friend. Then we love them as a friend. We can let God do the rest.

Intellectually, it is hard to believe that it can be that simple. The resurrection is a mystery. It is difficult to explain or justify. The truly difficult work is to love. We'd rather not get to know the stranger. We'd rather stick to what we know and the familiar faces we trust. Jesus urges us to explore the margins of our territory. He would have us seek sisters and brothers that are unknown to us. He would have us gather in another huge catch of fish. He would have us gather a multitude on the beach for breakfast - and know him together - and be known together - that all may know love.