What Turbulence Disturbs Your Soul Today?

 

Feed My Sheep

Church of the Supremacy of St. Peter, Tabgha, Israel, Sea of Galilee 

While others were on the beach, I escaped into the small, dark, overgrown garden, in search of something.  I thought at the time it was peace and quiet I was after, but I believe now it was grace. Interesting how peace and grace often go together, isn’t it?

I was feeling guilty for something that I had said; I no longer remember the details.  I was surprised to see this statue, and there I sighed, breathed deeply, and bowed my head.  I felt peace enter my soul.

In our passage this week Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  How guilty Peter must have felt for denying Jesus three times, such that Jesus had to ask this question.  And what grace Jesus extended to him, not only restoring him, but also giving him a mission and a purpose that showed what confidence Jesus had in him. 

As I navigate my way through these turbulent, difficult times, I hope that I can give a small portion of such grace to those around me and to myself.  What turbulence disturbs your soul today?

Can you remember a time when you were extended God’s grace?  Is there someone in your life who might need to hear how much you love them?  (I can think of a few in MY life.)

John 21 MSG

After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Sea of Galilee. This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.” The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.

Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?” They answered, “No.”  He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.” They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”

When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.

Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.”  Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip. Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.

Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them.  He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”  “Yes, Master, you know I love you.”  Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”  Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

On Sunday, many of the songs we will sing together mention God's tremendous grace. I look forward to singing them with you!

Susan

Let us build a house where love can dwell

and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell

how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions,

rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

all are welcome, all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

What is your story?

Imagine a world where we listen to everyone’s stories and learn we are not as different as we are the same. - STORYPEOPLE

I got a little taste of that world on Wednesday, at coffee with Rev. Donna and Terry.  As I listened to a small part of Terry’s story, I discovered that we shared something in common.  That discovery was significant because it changed the way I think about Terry.

This weekend, we celebrate Mother's Day. The stories of our family life can be both wonderful and painful, but they are stories that we know.  The rich stories of our church family members, those things that we have in common may still be there for us to discover.  After my experience with Terry, I want to discover more of your stories!

The first Mother's Day was celebrated in May, 1907, but its roots go back to 1858 when a remarkable woman organized Mother's Work Days to improve sanitation and reduce deaths from disease-bearing insects and polluted water. Other women are included in its history which you can read about here:  https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/commemorations/history-of-mothers-day/

Mother's Day now celebrates the contributions of women and all the mothering they do in the world, not just being mothers to children. 

Like the women who have worked to improve the world, Jesus came so that we could have a better life.  He wanted us to do God’s will (harmonious cooperation) and called those who do, his real family…his mother even. This is the Jesus Way.

When we gather in our circle in worship on Sunday, I will look around at each one of you and think, “This is my family, my mother, my brothers and my sisters.  What are their stories?”  This too is the Jesus Way.

Luke 24:13-32  MSG

“Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road?” 

John 10.10  MSG

“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

Mark 3:31-35  (NIVUK)

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’

‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked.

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’

Behold, behold, I make all things new

my promise is true, for I am Christ the Way.

What is it About Sharing Food that Helps us Connect as Humans?

 

Who do we see as we break bread together? 

The highlight of my week was having coffee with Rev. Donna. Although we talked about a lot of things, two words she used at the beginning of our conversation have stuck with me - humanness and connector. 

As she described her Study Leave experience, she was sharing with me a piece of herself - describing what really matters to her, what fills her cup to overflowing.  Vulnerable and honest…a gift.  All I had to do was sit, listen, and receive. 

We will see, hear, and touch the symbol of breaking bread together this Sunday. It is a recurring theme in the Jesus story, and in the story of his church. Jesus, our God made flesh, was always feeding people…sharing himself. 

Food is essential to our physical well-being. Connection with each other is also essential to our well-being.  Jesus tied the two together and turned it into reality. 

Luke 24:13-32  MSG

That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”

He said, “What has happened?”

They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said?  Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”