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.
Lord,
I've always loved this story.
I'm not sure exactly what it is.
Is it because I come from a long line of men
who liked to cook breakfast for their families?
And there you are cooking breakfast --
charcoal fire, fish & bread --
for your disciples.
Perhaps the first men's breakfast ministry!
Or is that someone counted the fish
and recorded it in the story?
153 fish
There must have been an accountant!
Such an unusual number.
9x17=153
Does it mean anything?
I've read perhaps it is one fish
for every nation known to exist
at the time of the story's writing.
Or is it that no one needed to ask
"Who are you?"
They just knew.
Or is it the communion liturgy
with bread and fish?
"Jesus came and took the bread
and gave it to them,
and did the same with the fish"
A communion of bread and fish.
Simple graces.
Everyday life made extraordinary
by your Risen presence.
Still true today.
Give me the eyes
to see your Risen presence
in the ordinary holiness
around me today.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment