Tuesday, May 3, 2022

May 1, 2022 - Third Sunday after Easter - The Breakfast Invitation at the Beach

Today's Gospel is the "take heart" story about the disciples returning to fishing after they followed the pre-Easter Jesus and their large catch after Jesus appears to them. How can this familiar fish story become fresh? Should we want it to be?

Pastor Mary Peterson, Creator's supply pastor today, gave a gentle, beautiful sermon that followed the story as it is traditionally handed down. Obviously this starts out with the disciples not knowing what to do. The something happens. As Pastor Mary gave her sermon there was something in Mary's voice and her words that reflected a compassion in Jesus and the disciples as they eat on the beach.

Beyond what Pastor Mary embodies in herself as far as the message, the perspective she conveyed is perhaps best captured in the following poem:

INSPIRATION

It’s those familiar scenes
beyond the hollowed tomb—
the sudden surprise meeting
with the gardener who knows my name—
that sunset sabbath journey,
approaching stranger, wayside inn,
the evening meal, the certain way
the bread was broken—
the breakfast on the shore at daybreak,
gentle invitation, driftwood fire,
crisp, fragrant fish on glowing coals,
the walk along the sand, those questions.
I can see myself among them
as they shared a meal, a word, a presence,
maybe even laughed together
as the future opened wide, first daylight
dancing full across the waters.

 
— J. Barrie Shepherd

Mary focused attention on the taste of the fish and friendship, which she imagined would compare to the bluegill sunfish she ate with friends in Minnesota that they called "sunnies". And yes, she conjured up the aroma and taste of eating fresh fish in our minds.

Now, leaving for a moment Mary's sermon, there is a detail in this account about Peter that always seems out of place. That is when Jesus is recognized, Peter puts on his clothes because he is fishing naked and this is pointed out about him only. 

Now, we may interpret why this is important.  For instance, he is not only without his clothes. He has also been without the physical presence of Jesus as he knew him in life. Peter may have previously relied on Jesus' physical presence to sustain him. After the fish are caught and hearing  "It is the Lord!", Peter puts on his own clothes and jumps into the sea. He is no longer afraid of leaving the boat and is not relying on the physical Jesus he knew that held him when he tried to walk on water in faith. But, as we are told, they are not that far from the shore. 

Then Jesus says to Peter, "Follow me." This may describe Peter's post-resurrection way of following his God. Peter, in this account, begins to recognize that Jesus is beyond a physical body in terms of his presence on earth. However, to insure this is some sort of command that focuses on homage or blind obedience to him as leader, Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" and when Peter responds"Yes." replies with "Feed my sheep". 

There are unexpected details throughout this passage. This is taking place at a place named the Sea of Tiberius, which is normally called the Sea of Galilee. Not only is Simon Peter naked, John also records there were exactly 153 large fish caught and that the net was not torn?  

Why, when the disciples did not know that it was Jesus, they caught nothing but when he said, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." they were not able to haul the net in because there were so many fish. Nets don't normally work that way when fishing. Jesus miracles normally spring from the routines in our lives, This is a miracle, yes, but...

The Sea of Galilee here being named the Sea of Tiberius suggests there is a tie between this story and the Roman emperor (see Diana Butler Bass' sermon link below)  I have heard in previous sermons that there were 153 nations known to the Greek/Romans at that time. Given that meaning, this appearance / miracle foreshadows Peter's dream of unclean food as recorded in Acts where Peter was taught by this vision that God has removed the barriers that separate God's people from the surrounding nations. The gospel was meant for all people. And, of course, this emphasized even more that this passage can be about something more than the disciples' night fishing work.

Diana Butler Bass preached on this passage at Wild Goose in 2019 with some compelling insights. Click here for that perspective.

Yes, there are unexpected details and layered meanings locked in this passage but the invitation to come and have breakfast truly reveals the true, universal, and invitational nature of Jesus and his loving relationship to the world.

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