May 11th - Reflection

John 21:1-14 (NRSV)
The risen Christ eats with the disciples
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

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.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Reflection
Peter's attempt to return to the ordinary, for him, and go back to fishing wasn't working all that well that night. They couldn't catch a fish. But then a man on the beach gave them some advice to cast the nets on the other side of the boat. The nets filled with fish and Jesus was recognized.

Peter took immediate action and put on some clothes and left his familiar boat to be with Jesus on the beach. Jesus invited the group to breakfast, an ordinary meal. Peter left what was ordinary in his life in the fishing to be with Jesus at the ordinary of breakfast.

Breakfast, the first meal of a new day. We break the fast and with Jesus we do just the same. The bread is broken and the fish is served and we begin a new day. A new day fed in body and spirit with the food from Jesus. Fed to go into the kingdom. Go into the kingdom with Jesus to the ordinary and the extraordinary. Going, led by Jesus and the Spirit, to do a new work and live a new life. We break the fast and live again. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I come to you here and now, take me from my ordinary to you, extraordinary but willing to exist in my ordinary. You make all things new. You sustain life and give me my daily bread. I have all I need in you. Send me this day. Go with me as I follow you in your kingdom to serve you and those you would give to me to serve and love this day. --- Amen