John 21:20-22

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 

Oh, Peter, Peter, Peter...

Just when it seemed like the climactic ending for our hero Peter, his human-ness gets in the way again.

He's confirmed three times that he loves Jesus, and three times Jesus has told Peter to care for his sheep.

But then...

"Hey Jesus...what about him?"

And Jesus replied, "What's it to you?"

Isn't that just like us? 

Everything seems to be going well. We've hit our stride. Gotten into our groove. Worked out whatever our something is, and then...

Bam.

Someone else comes on the scene and their something seems shinier than our something. Their something is something we wish was our something.

A little more attention.

A little more money.

More praise.

Better looks.

A higher IQ.

More power.

More importance.

Better grades.

Better health.

Less grief.

More friends. Or the friends we want.

A seat at the table.

The council position we wanted.

The job we wanted.

The house we wanted.

The neighborhood we wanted.

The life we wanted.

Maybe it comforts me more than just a little bit to know that even though at the very end...

After the resurrection.

Not long before Peter became the father of the church.

Peter still acted like a regular old human being.

And Jesus trusted him and loved him anyway.

What is it to me, whatever your generosity is toward others? Lord, remind me that your love is sufficient. Amen.

John 21:4-19

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.

When 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.” A 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.” He 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. Very 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.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

There is lots to speculate with what's going on here between Jesus and Peter.

Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him and three times, Peter (in increasing frustration sounds like), answers yes. 

First, it may - or may not - be important that Jesus and Peter are using two different words for "love" here. In the Greek, there are at least four words for 'love.' (more depending on who you are asking).  Two of those words are used here: Jesus begins by asking Peter if he loves him using the words "agape:" the highest, more spiritual love. It is the love we are called to for all of humanity. It is the most profound love. It is unconditional love.

Peter replies using "phileo," which those of us from Philadelphia might know from hearing the term "brotherly" love. It's affection. It's warm feelings of tenderness. It's the highest form of platonic love.

By the third time he asks the question, Jesus changes to "phileo" and leaves it there.

Maybe Jesus gave up that Peter would reply with "agape."

Or, it's possible that the words were often used interchangeably and there was something else going on.

Maybe Jesus was messing with Peter just a little bit after Peter's three times of denial.

Or maybe, in love, Jesus was giving Peter the chance to repent of those three denials so that Peter could begin again.

So that all that had come before the crucifixion would be over and Peter would move from disciple to apostle.

Jesus, teach me to love unconditionally and prepare me not simply to follow you, but to show your love to the world. Amen

Mark 16:1-8

Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Call this one an honest ending.

This original ending of the Gospel of Mark has always struck me. We are used to Easter and the Resurrection as our high, triumphant day on the church calendar.

But here Mark shows that an initial reaction anyway to Jesus' being gone from the tomb was anything but triumphant and joyous.

Here, instead, the women run away in fear.

And quite honestly, I think I might have wanted to do the same.

Resurrection - despite Jesus' frequent predictions of it - was unexpected, surprising, and awe-inspiring to his disciples. And their reactions to it were understandably not filled initially with courage, conviction, and triumph.

And it is in the midst of this fear.

This terror.

This lack of understanding and conviction.

That the Gospel story took root and took off.

The fact that the early disciples admitted to this fear, and that 2000 years later, Christianity has become what it is, makes this resurrection story for my money anyway, one of our most convincing backbones of our faith.

Remind me, Lord, when I am afraid, that in the midst of fear that you love is that which I can cling to and be assured of, and that you can turn my fear into something amazing. Amen.

Luke 24:36-43

Luke 24:36-43(NRSV)

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

For these few days after Easter Sunday, I think a little about Jesus' post-Resurrection appearances.

This is one from Luke that I've always liked. It bears similarities to John's tale of Doubting Thomas, yet Thomas is not named here as being the doubter. I like that.

Always thought he got a bad rep!

But what I like especially is that Jesus is hungry.

He eats with them.

After all the angst and drama and grief of Good Friday...

After death and burial and friends feeling left alone...

He is back.

And eats with them. While they are disbelieving and still wondering.

I like it because the truth is I'll bet there are days you are disbelieving and wondering. I know I am.

And yet then we come together and eat. We share in the Lord's Supper and are joined with the Risen Christ.

And that sustains us. Makes us knew. Makes us forgiven.

Fed and forgiven.

Something perhaps to wonder about. But something also to rejoice in.

Lord, feed me and forgive me. Amen.

Taking a break for Holy Week

Be back after Easter!

Luke 6:27-36 - Non-Violent resistance

Luke 6:27-36 (NRSV)

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

The issue of turning the other cheek has always been one to raise some eyebrows.

Some context helps. 

According to Christian scholar Walter Wink, in advising people to turn the other cheek Jesus is offering a third alternative to either violent resistance or passive acceptance.

In Roman times, the left hand was only used for certain bodily functions and would never have been used to strike someone. Only the right hand would be. And slaps of power would be back-handed, rather than open palmed. (Watch any old Biblical movie and you'll see that).

So to strike someone's cheek, you would backhand their right cheek with your right hand. (the Gospel of Matthew in fact specifies that it is the right cheek that is slapped).

Now, if someone does that to you and you turn the other cheek, what happens?

They aren't going to use their left hand to slap you. You have then rendered them powerless, even if it is only momentarily.

And this is Jesus' "third way" of non-violent resistance.

Non-violance is not passive. It is not submitting.

It is taking power and turning it back against the perpetrator without using more violence. It is refusing humiliation.

Yes, it is possible you will still be beaten. 

But the perpetrator of the violence will at the very least be given pause as they confront the unexpected response.

Similarly, in offering your shirt in addition to your coat, your nakedness would shame the person who would take your coat. Disconcerting at the very least!

Jesus is not advising passive submission to violence against us. Instead, Jesus offers a way of taking back some of our self-respect and turning the tables non-violently against a violent world.

Lord, turn me away from violence and help me to respect the dignity of all people. Amen

Luke 6:27-36 - Who is your enemy?

Luke 6:27-36 (NRSV)

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

I started to break this long segment from Jesus' sermon into chunks, but I'm not sure that in this case that's especially helpful.

Each piece of this famous discourse on loving your enemy feeds on itself. Taking each piece out of the whole makes it harder I think to even comprehend.

For example if someone is in a violent or abusive relationship, reading some of these texts is going to be difficult rather than transformative.

And transformative is definitely what Jesus was going for!

So, instead maybe looking at this text in a large chunk over a few days might be helpful.

For now, to begin, start by asking yourself who your enemy is.

Who is the person you are being called to love. to bless, and do good to.

The person who it feels like it would be impossible to do so.

And then - before we go any further - stop and pray for that person.

Right now.

Lord, I ask you to look with kindness upon the person that it is hardest for me to do so and to enlarge my capacity to do so as well. Amen