Easter 3
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
Come and have breakfast.
-- John 21:12b
What would it mean for Jesus to invite us to have breakfast with him? The first thing we recognize is that the breakfast for these disciples was made up of the fruits of their own labors. "Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' " While it was true that there was already some fish on the fire when the disciples arrived, the disciples were asked also to provide some of the fish. Of course we also recognize that even the product of our own labors ultimately are a product of God's blessing. The disciples caught the fish because they followed the instructions that were shouted to them from the shore.
Our labor is empty without Christ's blessing. It is also important to recognize that the product of their labor occurred because the disciples obeyed Jesus even before they recognized him. Sometimes we obey Christ who comes to us incognito. Perhaps he comes in the form of a stranger or a colleague at work or just the impulse that emerges from a life of faithfulness. It is important that we begin our day recognizing that that which nourishes us is a combination of Christ's blessing and our labor. As the disciples consumed their breakfast with Christ, Peter was confronted with the question, "Do you love me?"
It is important to recognize that the three times that Peter was asked the question corresponded to the three times that he denied Christ. It is part of Christ's love for us that he provides for us ways to be healed of our denials. The historic practice of the church assigning a penance for the sinner to offer in light of his sins recognized that our human nature needs to act as a response to our forgiveness. No matter how much we say we love Jesus, he asks us to demonstrate the fruits of that love by tending to his sheep. We know from the prophet Ezekiel that God was very harsh on the leaders who did not care for the flock (Ezekiel 34:1 ff). In this story, Jesus provided the bread, fish, and fire for breakfast.
Breakfast begins the day. With the proper nourishment, we have the energy to minister to the world. If the sheep are fed, they will go forth in ministry and bring a light to the world. Our love of Jesus must be demonstrated in actions that nourish the flock for the journey.
-- John 21:12b
What would it mean for Jesus to invite us to have breakfast with him? The first thing we recognize is that the breakfast for these disciples was made up of the fruits of their own labors. "Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' " While it was true that there was already some fish on the fire when the disciples arrived, the disciples were asked also to provide some of the fish. Of course we also recognize that even the product of our own labors ultimately are a product of God's blessing. The disciples caught the fish because they followed the instructions that were shouted to them from the shore.
Our labor is empty without Christ's blessing. It is also important to recognize that the product of their labor occurred because the disciples obeyed Jesus even before they recognized him. Sometimes we obey Christ who comes to us incognito. Perhaps he comes in the form of a stranger or a colleague at work or just the impulse that emerges from a life of faithfulness. It is important that we begin our day recognizing that that which nourishes us is a combination of Christ's blessing and our labor. As the disciples consumed their breakfast with Christ, Peter was confronted with the question, "Do you love me?"
It is important to recognize that the three times that Peter was asked the question corresponded to the three times that he denied Christ. It is part of Christ's love for us that he provides for us ways to be healed of our denials. The historic practice of the church assigning a penance for the sinner to offer in light of his sins recognized that our human nature needs to act as a response to our forgiveness. No matter how much we say we love Jesus, he asks us to demonstrate the fruits of that love by tending to his sheep. We know from the prophet Ezekiel that God was very harsh on the leaders who did not care for the flock (Ezekiel 34:1 ff). In this story, Jesus provided the bread, fish, and fire for breakfast.
Breakfast begins the day. With the proper nourishment, we have the energy to minister to the world. If the sheep are fed, they will go forth in ministry and bring a light to the world. Our love of Jesus must be demonstrated in actions that nourish the flock for the journey.
