Gathered into Beloved Community: A Reflection on the Ascension (Sunday, the 2nd of June 2019)

Gathered into Beloved Community

A Reflection on the Ascension

RCL Easter 7C

2 June 2019

Holy Trinity Cathedral

New Westminster BC

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 Eucharist on the 2nd of June.

John 17.20-26

                  ^17.20  [Jesus continued to pray,] “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  ²²The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  ²⁴Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

                  ²⁵“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.  ²⁶I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

            In the summer of 1976 I accompanied a group of high school students on their trip to what was then East and West Germany.  Because the organizer of the trip, my former supervising teacher when I was a student teacher, had connections in southern Germany, much of our time was spent in Bavaria with two brief excursions, one to Berlin, the other to Austria.

            One of our jaunts took us to a monastery on the Danube near the city of Regensburg.  As we toured the grounds, we entered into the chapel which as an ornate example of Baroque church architecture.  On the ceiling was a painting of the Ascension of Christ, although all that was visible of Christ were his feet disappearing into the cloud.  Wide-eyed apostles looked up with mixed expressions of awe and not a little trepidation.

            Around the base of the dome was a walkway with an ornate bannister. Obscured by the magnificent decoration all around him was a life-sized figure of the chapel’s architect dressed in late seventeenth-century clothes.  He looked down on us as we looked up at him, our necks aching, his face wearing a cheeky grin.  He seemed to know something that we did not know about what the Ascension meant for us lowly mortals, craning with our necks to catch a last glimpse of our Lord, our Saviour, the Son of God.

            There are many dimensions to God’s mission as embodied in the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.  I believe that one of the more important dimensions was --- and is and will be --- is to gather people of every race and nation, people of all genders and ages, people of every social status and experience, into a beloved community, a community at one which each other just as Jesus is at one with the Holy One our God. This beloved community transcends time and place.  This beloved community is gathered not into a closely-guarded, self-interested club but into a human society with open hearts, open hands and open minds.  In this beloved community diversity is not something to be feared but to be embraced.  In this beloved community questions are encouraged rather than discouraged.  In this beloved community love means being always prepared to say, ‘I’m sorry’, and to work towards restored life-giving relationships.

            This is what Jesus came to do.  And once this community was gathered by his teaching, tested by his arrest, trial and death, then re-energized and empowered by his resurrection, Jesus’ earthly work was done.  His time had come to hand over his work to us, his continuing presence in the world.

            I remember a joke that was circulating among my classmates when I was in seminary.  After his ascension Jesus arrives in heaven and is greeted by the archangels.  They ask him for an ‘executive summary’ of what he had accomplished during his time on earth.  So Jesus tells him about his teaching and miracles, his joys and sorrows, and something about the people whom he had gathered around him.

            ‘So,’ one of the archangels asks Jesus, ‘what’s the next step in your plan?’ ‘Well,’ Jesus says, ‘I’ve asked my apostles and disciples to share what I’ve taught them with everyone they meet.’ One of the other archangels says, ‘That’s the plan?  What’s the back-up if they don’t follow your instructions?’  ‘There is no back-up plan,’ Jesus says.

            Friends, there is no back-up plan to God’s mission in Jesus other than the work of the church, this beloved community of old and young, wise and foolish, eager and weary, rich and poor, who have been called by God from everyday life to share in God’s mission restore right relationships.

            The heart of that mission is the gathering of all of humanity into beloved community, one small cell at a time.  It’s hard work and we often feel inadequate to the task and discouraged by the results of our efforts.  Sometimes we want to find a ‘saviour’, whether in the person of a charismatic leader or some inspiring program from our diocesan or national church.

            But charismatic leaders come and go.  Inspiring programs are useful but only for a time.  But we, God’s beloved community, remain.  Our stories shared with our friends, neighbours and family about the help, hope and home we have found here are more convincing that we imagine. Our care of the vulnerable and needy speaks eloquently about what we believe and value.

            So, instead of looking up at Christ’s feet disappearing into the clouds above, let’s look down at our feet.  Where we stand is sacred ground, whether in the church at worship or in the kitchen feeding the hungry.  Let’s look at our hands.  Whether they are stretched out in prayer and praise or they are holding someone in need or distress, our hands are Christ’s hands.

            Jesus came to gather us here as a cell of the beloved community coming into being throughout time and space.  But there’s more to God’s mission and next week we’ll learn just a bit more.

Proper Prayers for Easter 7 (2 June 2019)

Propers for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (RCL Easter 7C)

Acts 16.16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22.12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17.20-26

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven. Mercifully give us faith to know that, as he promised, he abides with us on earth to the end of time; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [1]

or

O God, form the minds of your faithful people into your one will.  Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, so that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is found, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2 alt.]

or

Risen and ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your Church on earth with compassion, so that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace, to the glory of God and in the unity of the Spirit.  Amen. [3]

or

Living God, mystery of love given and received: deepen our yearning for unity, so that the whole creation might share in your communion; through Jesus Christ, who makes known your love.  Amen.  [3]

or

Father, righteous one,/Creator of all and Source of all life and love, your beloved Son prayed that his disciples in every generation might be one as you and he are one.  Look upon this assembly gathered in his name.  Fulfil in us the prayer of Jesus and crown our celebration of this paschal season with your Spirit’s gift of unity and love.  Grant this through Jesus Christ, the first-born from the dead, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.  Amen.  [4 alt.]

or

God of boundless grace, you call us to drink freely of the well of life and to share the love of your holy being.  May the glory of your love, made known in the victory of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, transform our lives and the world he lived and died to save.  We ask this in his name and for his sake.  Amen. [6]

Prayer over the Gifts

Source of all joy, receive our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.  Keep us in the love of Christ and bring us to the vision of his glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth.  Day by day you shower us with blessings.  As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Saviourand Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Proper Preface of Easter

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, who after his glorious resurrection appeared to his disciples, and in their sight ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, there we might also be, and reign with him in glory.  Therefore we praise you with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who enthroned forever at your right hand intercedes for us as our great high priest.  And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2a]

Prayer after Communion

Eternal God, may we who share Christ’s banquet be one with him as he is one with you.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the risen and ascended Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people.  Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, so that we may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Easter Blessings

I

God the Father, who has given to his Son the name above every name, strengthen you

to proclaim Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. Amen.

God the Son, our great high priest, who has passed into the heavens, clothe you with power from on high. Amen.

God the Holy Spirit, who pours out abundant gifts upon the Church, make you faithful followers of the risen Christ. Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.  [7]

or

II

May the risen Christ who has passed into the heavens clothe you with power from on high and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7]

 

Sources

[1]       The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]       Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2016

[4]       Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language 1997, 1999, 2001

[5]       Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]       Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]       The Book of Occasional Services2018

N.B.  When a word or phrase appears is italicized in a liturgical text, it is an alteration made by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett to the original text.

Words from Holy Trinity's Deacon

Dear Friends,

On Sunday our Deacon, the Rev'd Carole Neilson, shared her reflections on the Scriptures of the day and their message of love and peace.

Click here to listen to Carole's sermon as preached at the 10.00 Eucharist.

Blessings,

Richard +
Vicar

Proper Prayers for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (26 May 2019)

Propers for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (RCL Easter 6C)

Acts 16.9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21.10, 22-22.5; John 14.23-29

Collect of the Day

Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you riches beyond imagination.  Pour into our hearts such love toward you, that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever.  Amen.  [1]

or

Bountiful God, you gather your people into your realm, and you promise us food from your tree of life. Nourish us with your word, that/so that empowered by your Spirit we may love one another and the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  [2]

or

Gracious God, through a vision you sent forth Paul to preach the gospel and called the women to a place of prayer on the sabbath.  Like Paul and Lydia, may our hearts respond to your word and be open to go where you lead us.  Amen. [3]

or

Holy One, you breathe the word of love and the promise of new creation into the secret places of our lives.  Teach us the costly way of fearless love and priceless peace; through Jesus Christ, who dwells in us.  Amen.  [3]

or

Great and loving Father/Generous and compassionate God, your will for us in Jesus is the peace the world cannot give; your abiding gift is the Advocate he promised.  Calm all troubled hearts, dispel every fear.  Keep us steadfast in love and faithful to your word, that/so that we may always be your dwelling place.  Grant this through Jesus Christ, the first-born from the dead, who lives and reigns with you in unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.  Amen. [4]

Prayer over the Gifts

God of glory, accept all we offer you this day, and bring us to that eternal city of love and light, where Christ is King.  We ask this in his name.  Amen.  [1]

or

God of glory, accept all we offer you this day, and bring us to that eternal city of love and light, where Christ reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.  Amen. [1 alt.]

or

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth.  Day by day you shower us with blessings.  As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Saviourand Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Proper Preface of Easter

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true paschal lamb who has taken away the sin of the world.  By his death he destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he was won for us eternal life.  Therefore, joining our voices with the hole company of heaven, we sing our joyful hymn of praise to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life.  And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2a]

Prayer after Communion

Father, you restored us to life by raising your Son from death.  May we who receive this sacrament always be strengthened to do your will, in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

Giver of life, you restored us to life by raising Jesus from the grave.  May we who receive this sacrament always be strengthened to do your will, in the name of Jesus the Christ.  Amen.  [1 alt.]

or

Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people.  Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, so that we may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Easter Blessings

I

May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing.  Amen. 

May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever.  Amen. 

May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer, bring you to your eternal inheritance.  Amen. 

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.  Amen.   [7]

II

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7]

 

Sources

[1]       The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]       Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2016

[4]       Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997, 1999, 2001

[5]       Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]       Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]       The Book of Occasional Services2018

N.B.  When a word or phrase appears is italicized in a liturgical text, it is an alteration made by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett to the original text.

How Shall We Sing the Lord's Song? (RCL Easter 5C, 19 May 2019)

How Shall We Sing the Lord’s Song?

Reflections on Acts 11.1-18 and John 13.31-35

RCL Easter 5C

19 May 2019

Holy Trinity Cathedral

New Westminster BC

Notes for an Unfinished Sermon

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 Eucharist on Sunday the 19th.

(1)  Every once and a while I come upon a Sunday where I can only prepare what I might describe as being ‘from text to sermon --- almost’. This is just such a Sunday.  My goal is to leave you with a question that will lead you to live your own sermon in the week ahead.

(2)  “Why’d you choose such a backward time in such a strange land?”  Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar by Webber and Rice.

(a) John’s Gospel stresses the love the disciples of Jesus are to have for one another.

(b) It’s a small circle because it’s a community feeling under attack from their own Jewish families, friends and neighbours.

(c) In such a situation it becomes very much an environment of ‘us’ versus ‘them’ where solidarity within the community of disciples is more important than generosity towards those who are ‘outside’.

(3)  “Draw the circle wide.  Draw it wider still.”  Draw the Circle Wide by Gordon Light.

(a) Peter has returned to the Jerusalem community with a remarkable story:  Non-Jews are being called by God to become disciples of Jesus.

(b) It is a development that is beyond their imagination and presents them with the challenge of expanding their vision of God’s mission.

(c) They thought God’s mission of reconciliation and renewal revealed in Jesus of Nazareth was limited to the Jewish people.  Now they know God’s dream is bigger and will involve new ways of being disciples of Jesus. It will bring that most dreaded of human experiences:  CHANGE.

(4)  “Since Love is lord of heaven and dearth, how can I keep from singing?”  My Life Flows on in Endless Song by Robert Lowry.

(a) In every generation the disciples of Jesus are faced with the challenge of knowing how and whom to love.

(b) Even though it’s not as easy path, we do know how to love:  We are to love in the same way that God has loved us in Jesus. Although the principle is clear, the details of working this out in daily life take a lifetime to come even close to learning or, if we are particularly gifted, to mastering.

(c) It is even more difficult to know whom we are to love.

(i) Family and friends are, for the most part, a given.

(ii) People who are like-minded, who belong to ‘our group’ and who share our tastes are not always easy to love, but we can love them most of the time without too much effort.

(iii) But what about ‘those other folk’?  You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones whose stories are so very different from our own, who don’t share our understanding of how things ought to be done, who challenge the status quoand ask questions we’d prefer were left unasked.

(iv) This is the difficult question because the love God offers to us in Jesus is a love that washes feet, touches the ‘unclean’ and reaches out to those some consider to be ‘beyond the pale’. It is a love that expects action and that opens us to risk CHANGE.

(5)  “My song is love unknown, my Saviour’s love to me; love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.”  My Song Is Love Unknown by Samuel Crossman.

(a) The song that God sang to Peter led him away from the smaller circle envisioned by the evangelist John to a wider circle.

(b) The song that God sang to those who came before us in this congregation led them to a world embraced by a Love that is lord of heaven and earth.

(c) The song that God sings to us leads us to seek those who feel ‘loveless’, whether sitting next to us in the pew or beyond our walls or perhaps within our very selves, so that we might ‘lovely be’.

(d) Where do you think God’s song is beckoning you this week?

Proper Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (12 May 2019)

Propers for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (RCL Easter 4C)

Acts 9.36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7.9-17; John 10.22-30

Collect of the Day

O God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do your will, and work in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

O God of peace, you brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep. By the blood of your eternal covenant, make us complete in everything good so that  we may do your will, and work among us all that is well-pleasing in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen. [2]

or

Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of the flock: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, so that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God, the Shepherd of Israel.  Amen.  [3]

or

Eternal God, from whose gentle hands none can snatch us away: give us faith to believe that we are known and loved with a passion strong enough to bring the whole world back to you; through Jesus Christ, who is one with you,  the Source of life.  Amen.  [3]

or

Safe in your hand, O God, is the flock you shepherd through Jesus your Son.  Lead us always to the living waters where you promise respite and refreshment, so that we may be counted among those who know and follow you.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.  Amen. [4]

or

God of comfort and compassion, through Jesus, your Son, you lead us to the water of life and the table of your bounty.  May we who have received the tender love of our Good Shepherd be strengthened by your grace to care for your flock.  Amen.  [6]

Prayer over the Gifts

God of loving care, you spread before us the table of life, and give us the cup of salvation to drink. Keep us always in the fold of your Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our shepherd.  Amen.  [1]

or

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth.  Day by day you shower us with blessings.  As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Saviourand Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Proper Preface of Easter

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true paschal lamb who has taken away the sin of the world.  By his death he destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he was won for us eternal life.  Therefore, joining our voices with the hole company of heaven, we sing our joyful hymn of praise to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life.  And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2a]

Prayer after Communion

God of steadfast love, watch over the Church redeemed by the blood of your Son.  May we who share in these holy mysteries come safely to your eternal kingdom, where there is one flock and one shepherd.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Amen. [1]

or

Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people.  Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, so thatwe may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Easter Blessings

I

May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing.  Amen. 

May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever.  Amen. 

May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer, bring you to your eternal inheritance.  Amen. 

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.  Amen.   [7]

II

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7]

 

Sources

[1]       The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]       Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2016

[4]       Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997, 1999, 2001

[5]       Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]       Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]       The Book of Occasional Services2018

N.B.  When a word or phrase appears is italicized in a liturgical text, it is an alteration made by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett to the original text.

God's Story, Our Story, Isn't Finished Yet: Reflections on John 21-1-19

God’s Story, Our Story, Isn’t Finished Yet:

Reflections on John 21.1-19

RCL Easter 3C

5 May 2019

Holy Trinity Cathedral

New Westminster BC

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 Eucharist on the 5th.

John 21.1-19

                  ^21.1After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.  ²Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.  ³Simon 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.

                  ⁴Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  ⁵Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?”  They answered him, “No.”  ⁶He 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.  ⁷That 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.  ⁸But 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.

                  ⁹When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.  ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”  ¹¹So 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.  ¹²Jesus 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.  ¹³Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.  ¹⁴This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

                  ¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  ¹⁶A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  ¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?”  And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.  ¹⁸Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished.  But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”  ¹⁹(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

            As long as Paula and I have been married, we’ve stayed after every movie to watch the credits.  We each look for different things.  Paula tends to look for the music credits and I tend, if the movie has some great cinematography, to look for where the film was shot.  Our perseverance in waiting until the film is truly over has been rewarded in recent years by film makers who include either deleted scenes or teaser scenes during the credits.

            More often than not these scenes tend to point to the next film if the one we’re watching is part of a series.  Sometimes the scenes contain so-called ‘blooper reel’ moments when one or more of the actors makes a spectacular mistake or flubs their lines. In many ways these scenes are a reminder that the story isn’t really over.  It’s as if the story has a life of its own and continues to unwind even when we’re not around to watch it.

            Many scholars think that today’s reading from the Gospel according to John is, from a biblical point of view, just such an added scene.  Last week we heard the story of Thomas and his encounter with the risen Jesus, a passage that ends with these words:  “^20.30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  ³¹But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”  It wouldn’t be that difficult to read these words as the credits.  But either John the Evangelist or a later editor can’t let go of the story.  ‘Just one more episode’, I can almost hear the author say, ‘because you’ve got to hear this great resurrection story.’

            It is a great story because it begins with an implicit admission of failure. Simon Peter and his colleagues are back home in Galilee.  They’ve left Jerusalem behind and there is no sense of an excited crowd of Jesus’ disciples filling the highways and byways with the proclamation that Jesus has been raised from the dead.  There’s no need to hide because the revolution hasn’t caught on.  So Simon Peter and the others go back to what they know best --- fishing.  Even then they’re not having much luck.

            A stranger who isn’t really a stranger appears on the shore.  He gives them advice as to where to cast their nets. They all know who it is and they’re afraid to admit it.  If they admit to themselves that it is Jesus, then they also have to acknowledge that their failure isn’t the end of the story.  What God has done in Jesus of Nazareth is a never-ending story, a story that keeps adding chapters even when we may think that there is nothing more to be said or done. Failure isn’t an option because God’s love made known to us and to the world in Jesus will not let us go.  ‘Come on,’ Jesus says, ‘I know that fishing on the left hasn’t worked.  Try the right.  You’ll be surprised by the results.’

            However we first came into contact with Jesus of Nazareth, whenever we met God in this mysterious figure, whomever God used as the agent of our encounter, you and I have been well and truly caught.  Just like fish caught in a net will struggle to free themselves and some will even succeed, so we’ve been caught in a net woven by God’s love, cast into the sea of this world by the guidance of the Spirit and brought on board to share in God’s mission begun in creation, continued in Jesus and directed to the future.

            Our ministry is to bring others into a life-giving, life-affirming, life-renewing relationship with God.  We bring others into such a relationship not by threats or intimidation but by our obedient imitation of Christ’s love and care for others.  It is a persuasive ministry where our actions do speak far more effectively than our words.  It is a life-long ministry that often leads us in directions we never thought we would go. It is a risky ministry that brings us face to face with answering the same question that Jesus asked Simon Peter three times:  “Do you love me?”

            My friends, this is not an easy time to be a disciple of Jesus, especially if we belong to a tradition such as ours, rich in history, rich in spiritual treasures, rich in commitment to the needs and concerns of the world but feeling that our nets keep coming up empty.  It is tempting to give in to discouragement from time to time.  Some of us may even feel like we’re watching the credits at the end of a film.  And then along comes Jesus, surprising us as we’re getting our coats ready to leave and trying to find a trash can for our popcorn container.  ‘Come,’ he says, ‘come and follow me.  Let’s try something new and fish on the other side of the boat.’ 

            Let’s dare to share our faith with someone else and not worry about what they might think of us.  Let’s dare to imagine where we as a Parish are going to be in one year’s time, two years’ time, three years’ time and be hopeful.  Let’s remember that God has called us ‘ . . . to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown . . . [and to go out in faith and good courage] not knowing where we go, but only that [God’s] hand is leading us and [Christ’s] love [is supporting us].’ [1]  After all, the story isn’t over and there are many more sequels to come.

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[1]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 317.