Presence
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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." -John 21:6
Remember the story of Jesus calling the disciples in the gospel of Luke? Peter, James and Andrew are so discouraged after a night of hard work that had yielded no fish. Along came Jesus with a whole crowd of people pushing in around him. He sees the fishermen repairing their nets up ahead, so he gets into Peter’s boat and asks him to push out into the deeper water. When they get out there, Jesus tells him to put down his nets for a catch. Peter says, “Teacher, we’ve been fishing all night! But if you say so, we’ll lower the nets.” And that’s when the nets get so full they almost burst and the boat almost sinks from all the fish they’ve suddenly caught. In Luke, this story comes at the beginning of the story. It’s what makes the disciples want to follow Jesus.
The gospel of John saves this story for the end. In John’s version, once again the disciples are deeply discouraged, but it’s because their leader, Jesus, has been killed. Not knowing what to do with themselves, they figure they might as well go fishing. A man they do not recognize calls to them from the shore. And when they do what he recommends, the nets overflow with fish! All of a sudden, Peter knows who this stranger really is. “It is the Lord!” And in his excitement, he puts on some clothes (because apparently he’d been fishing naked) and jumps into the water to swim, even though the boat is only a few yard out from shore. There are moments of joy in this life that are beyond logic!
When he and the boat get to shore, they find Jesus has prepared a charcoal fire and asks for some of the fresh fish. They share in a bounteous fish barbecue together, with the disciples strangely quiet. They don’t dare ask this man who he is, even though they all know it’s Jesus. He must look somehow different, but nonetheless, they have learned that when an abundant meal is created where a few seconds ago there was next to nothing, Jesus must be in their midst!
In John’s version of this story, we realize that Jesus’ death was not really the end of the story after all. It was a whole new beginning. The disciples were nourished by Christ’s post-resurrection appearance - and the fish barbecue - and from there they would keep following Christ as their risen Lord, continuing his ministry. It’s like that for us, too. Whenever we get tired and discouraged, all it takes is a moment of deep spiritual consolation to get us ready to get moving again.
I hope you’ve had your own version of this unexpected fish barbecue, or soon will. I hope you’ve had a sudden recognition that you are not alone and that you’re loved and cared for. Maybe it’ll happen around a table. Maybe out on errands. Maybe in a relationship. Maybe while gathered with friends. Maybe while hiking up a mountain or being out in the garden. Maybe in your prayer time or while you’re working side by side with a colleague. If we have our eyes and hearts open, we will be able to see and know the presence of Christ in our lives, giving us the encouragement we need to keep going. So be watching!
I am looking forward to hearing from our special guest, Phil Wyzek, Executive Director of Monadnock Family Services this Sunday as we begin the month of May - mental health awareness month. Please come and hear his good news about how we can be a more compassionate community. How we can be the presence of Christ for others, sometimes when they least expect it.
