Tomorrow’s set gospel (John 21) tells a special story. Jesus is alive, appearing to many, and still putting things in place to enable the building of his church, before he goes back to heaven.
He has already convinced Thomas he is real and true, opened the minds of two pilgrim walkers to understand the scripture in a new way – that Jesus is the Messiah who fulfills the OT prophecies. He is the saving plan for humankind, set up from the start. “In the beginning”… as John’s gospel says.
But his best friend had let him down completely… as he knew he would. Peter was going to be the rock on which Jesus would build his church. The other disciples knew that… (mind you they had all fled too) - so what happened?
It goes like this. The disciples were by now wondering “what next? Something’s happening.” They had gone fishing. They caught nothing overnight. As they came to shore a man asked about their catch. “Throw the net on the right side, and you find some”. A miraculous haul – but the precious nets untorn. The disciples recognise the miracle and the man. Good old Peter – remembering to put his shirt on, he jumps overboard and wades ashore. They find breakfast. They sit to eat.
Now can you imagine that meal. Food passed from hand to hand. And with each pass there’s a look, even just a “thank you”. And Peter, thinking in the intimacy of a shared meal, knows that there is something still to be said. Another look, that Luke records Jesus giving Peter as he denied him the 3rd time, must still be vivid – a look seared into Peter’s memory - and not just a memory of fact – but with emotion and meaning – a heart memory.
And every time Jesus passed some fish to Peter, and looked at him, I can see Peter looking away, avoiding eye contact…
After the meal Jesus gets up and motions Peter to walk a little bit away. This was to be a 1:1. Three times Peter is asked by Jesus – “do you love me…?” Three times Peter responds. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” - a heart cry. Jesus re-commissions him.
This moment of grace is so huge. And we all have some Peter in us.
My wife and I stood in St Peters, in the Vatican, Rome last year. The high altar is built over Peter’s tomb. It was very moving to be still, finding a spot away from the tourist traffic and noise, and read this gospel account. AND THANK God for his relentless patience, steadfast love and amazing grace - in Jesus name.
Nigel
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