3rd Sunday of Easter

Readings: Acts 9v1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5v11-end; John 21v1-19.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: In John we hear that after Jesus’ death that Peter has given up his call to ministry and returned to his former life as a fisherman, supported by Thomas, Nathanael, the two sons of Zebedee and the disciple that Jesus loved. But even though they were out all night they caught nothing until at daybreak a man on the beach pointed out where they could catch some fish. So, when they threw out their nets out and caught a catch that was so great that they struggled to haul it in, they knew what this meant. For this was something that had happened once before when they had first been called by Jesus to become his disciples. So it is not surprising that they knew that the man on the beach was the risen Lord Jesus. What is also not surprising is what Peter did, for instead of returning to the beach in the boat hauling the great catch, he put his clothes on and swam back to the beach, where they were all invited to eat breakfast with Jesus. What we hear next is known as Peter’s second calling. For Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. In response to Peter’s first reply, Jesus commissions him to nurture Jesus’ lambs. In response to Peter’s second reply, Jesus commissions him to watch over Jesus’ sheep. But when Jesus asks Peter for the third time, Peter is hurt and breaks into his witness testimony that he now knows that Jesus knows everything (maybe recalling his own three denials of Jesus) and that he already knows that Peter really does love him. In response to this, Jesus not only commissions Peter to nurture Jesus’ sheep but also to forewarn him about his death and command him to “Follow me”. This threefold commission to nurture the lambs, watch over and nurture the sheep is Jesus calling to all who follow him. And, the second calling of Peter, after he has given up his first calling and returned to his old life, is a reminder to us all that God knows everything about us and even though we will often feel unworthy and not up to the task, God still wants us to do his bidding and follow his son.

The reading from the Book of Acts tells us about the conversion of Saul who became St Paul. It shows a man who is so incensed by the followers of Jesus that he is a long way from home, off to search for Christians in order to persecute them for their faith. However, Saul had not expected what God had planned for him: a meeting with the risen Lord Jesus; to be told that he would be commissioned into Jesus work; to be temporarily blinded by the light of Christ and led by the hand to Damascus; to be so touched by what had occurred that he was found in prayer by Ananias; then healed and his sight returned. Saul was so changed by what occurred that he believed the message that Ananias brought to him and became an ardent follower of Jesus. This account is well known and has given us two well-known expressions: a Damascus experience referring to something so powerful it is life changing; and the description of suddenly realising something as “scales falling from our eyes”. But what is even more important is that this reading shares with us the good news that God can change even the most reckless and heart-hearted if us, even if it means Jesus has to do what was done in Saul’s case.

These two readings tell us about the two leaders of the early Christian church. Peter, the rock on which the Church was built, who initially ran back to his old life, but went on to be called again and commissioned by Jesus to care for Jesus’ lambs and sheep. Paul, the hothead, troublemaker, agitator and persecutor of Christians who was saved and changed by Jesus and became a great missionary to the gentiles. Both of these two men were flawed but eventually were changed by Jesus and became two of the most important men in the life of the worldwide church who died for their faith as witnesses for Jesus. For both of these men believed that Jesus was alive in heaven, the heaven that we hear about in Revelation. For as the writer of Revelation tells us, in heaven the Lamb of God is alive and being praised and worshipped by thousands and thousands of angels, the four living creatures and the elders. So when we struggle with our faith and the calling that God has placed on our lives, I ask you to turn to the words of scripture. For as our psalm tells us: God hears our prayers; and God reaches out to help and heal us; and God does not let our enemies triumph over us forever. For God is with us helping us to endure the dark times in life and will one day raise us up by turning our mourning into dancing. For with God in our lives we flourish and thrive in spite of what life throws our way.

Let us Pray: Almighty and ever living God, our ever loving and merciful Father, our one and only Lord; we thank you for the joy you gave by showing your risen son Jesus to his disciples. Open for us the eyes of our faith and strengthen us to serve you always by Jesus’ risen life. Help us to see Jesus in all his redeeming works and sustain us to live our lives with justice, decency and honesty. Amen

Thanks for joining us today.