Ministry Updates for Wednesday, April 15th, 2020
*Scripture for Reflection*– John 21:4-8 (You may want to read vs. 1-3 as
well)
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.
*Reflection – Is There an Echo in Here?*
We continue in our story of Peter and Jesus. Yesterday we focused on the idea that Easter is not a day, but a season, and more importantly a way of seeing the world. In today’s passage, we get a ‘rerun’ or an ‘echo’ from Jesus’ calling his first followers (Luke 5:1-11). They were
fishermen at the time. They had worked all night and caught nothing. Jesus told them to cast their net again. Sound familiar to what you just read? It is. The difference is that the Jesus speaking in the above passage has been crucified, died, buried and raised again.
I feel like certain situations have reoccurred in my life. I don’t know if I kept drawing myself to those situations, or if God kept throwing them in my path. At times my life felt like a rerun that I didn’t really enjoy the first time through. It was only when I began to face these
situations with hope, optimism, a new plan and faith, that the reruns played out a new ending. With that I got to enter wonderful new chapters in my life.
Peter was chosen by Jesus to lead the new movement. He was leading them backward, to his comfort zone, when he was captain of the fishing boat, even a small fleet. But now comes the echo, the rerun. Jesus, risen, is back with haunting familiarity. Remember all I taught you Peter?
There are times when Jesus reminds me that His call to be a Christian is not an event in my past. There are times when Jesus reminds me that His call to be a pastor did not just happen 22 years ago. His call to be a Christian is moment to moment. His call to be a pastor is moment to moment. And when the reruns begin to appear, it may just be that I have
gone back to some ‘old habits’. It is time for a new plan, a new hope, a renewed faithfulness to his call.
In my first appointment out of seminary, I was at a large church where my management skills acquired in the business world would serve me well. I was poised for success. But it felt like I was, metaphorically speaking, headed back to my fishing boat. I didn’t want a large catch. I wanted to be faithful to God.
I believe God wants success for us. But far more than that, he wants us to be faithful. This passage, I believe, calls us to move from our comfort zone and refocus on Christ.
*Prayer*
God of abundance, God of eternal care, God of hope in every situation, in a time when we are worried about material realities, we give you thanks that our number one asset in this life is that you remain faithful, even when we are not. Let the Risen Christ appear to us again, to return us to and to strengthen our call. Amen.