John 21. 1 - 19
Easter III
F Alex
We have two powerful stories today that tell us of the transformation that comes from an encounter with the risen Lord.
Our first reading, the ultimate story of conversion, shows us how the murderous Saul becomes the great apostle Paul, in a blinding vision on the road to Damascus.
In that moment Paul’s entire world is turned upside down. And his response is to pour himself out in service to Christ, and to the people he once persecuted.
It’s a powerful witness to the way in which God may use any person and any situation to work his purposes in the world. As Ananias says to the Lord in his vision, “You can’t mean Saul – I’ve heard about all the evil this man has done.” But the Lord says that even he “is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel.”
In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes about his conversion experience, and says that he is “the very least of all the saints;” and yet, he says, “[God’s] grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ.”
He talks often in his letters of his sufferings; just as we heard today the Lord saying that he “will show [Paul] how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
But Paul’s attitude to these sufferings is not one of accepting punishment, or atoning for past sins. Paul says to the Ephesians: “I pray that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.”
Paul rejoices in his new life in Christ, even in his sufferings, because he knows how Christ has already suffered for him. And he knows that it was in suffering that Christ revealed his glory. Paul’s own suffering then becomes a witness to the glory of Christ, and his power to transform any situation, and any person.
Our second story of transformation is that wonderful resurrection appearance in John’s Gospel.
Compared with Paul’s blinding vision, this is all rather more understated and every-day. The disciples don’t recognise Jesus (again). He helps them carry on with their fishing; he then cooks breakfast for them.
The disciples come to an awareness of Jesus only partly through the miraculous catch of fish – only John realises that it’s Jesus. Where they all discover his true identity is through his simple acts of service. They don’t need to ask “who are you,” because his love and his care speak for themselves.
It puts me in mind of Maundy Thursday, just a few days before, when Jesus serves them by washing their feet. And of course it calls to mind what happens after that meal, when Jesus is arrested.
John adds in the detail to today’s account that Jesus has prepared a charcoal fire for the disciples. The last time we heard of a ‘charcoal fire’ was on that night of betrayal, when Peter follows Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
John writes that “the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold … Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.”
Three times, those gathered around that charcoal fire accuse Peter of being one of Jesus’ disciples. And three times he denies him.
But this time, at the beginning of a new day, Jesus himself prepares the charcoal fire. And three times he asks Peter the same question, “Do you love me?” And now, three times Peter declares his faith; even if he gets a little hurt at being reminded of his triple denial. “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
In both these stories, the transformation comes not from anything that people may do to change themselves; it comes from what Jesus does for them, and what he enables them to become, often in spite of themselves.
Jesus doesn’t condemn Peter for his faithlessness, just as he doesn’t condemn Paul for his persecutions. He gives them both the opportunity to be transformed in his service; he uses their weakness as a witness to his glory, and his saving power.
And he doesn’t ask them to do anything he hasn’t already done for them.
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus calls the disciples to love one another and commit themselves to lives of service; but only after he first demonstrates his love for them, and serves them by washing their feet.
On the beach, he calls Peter and the disciples to tend his sheep and feed his lambs; but only after he has tended to their needs, and fed them himself.
And it’s the same for us. We are called, like Paul, and Peter and the disciples, to follow Jesus into the world and join him in his mission: but we are not asked to go anywhere or do anything that Jesus hasn’t already done for us.
We go to share the good news of the risen Christ because we encounter his presence here, in this Eucharist. We go to tell others of the transformation that may come from an encounter with him, because we ourselves have been transformed in our baptism, in the forgiveness of our sins, and in our life together in this place.
Our participation in Christ’s great work of love is not a burden, or an obligation; it is the joyful response of people who already know themselves to be loved and cared for by Christ himself.
May you know that joy and that love in your lives this day. Amen.