Don't Stop
How often when you read the gospels does it leave you with more questions than answers? For instance did you wonder why, when John's Gospel seems to end in chapter 20, we suddenly get another chapter recounting another experience of the resurrected Jesus? Following some careful silent reflection on the text I have come to think that this is an extremely important account that was written especially to meet the needs of John's early Christian community.
If we remember that John's Gospel was written in the early part of the second century we will realise that all those early followers of Jesus including the Beloved Disciple and Peter would have died by the time of writing. With everything in the first twenty chapters describing stories about his life, death and resurrection of Jesus I suggest that John includes this chapter to indicate the way in which the community, nearly one hundred years later, can continue to experience the presence of the living Christ for themselves. In order to do this the author takes a selection of stories from the oral tradition and weaves them together to provide a rich tapestry to inform, inspire and invigorate his readers. Such a text is clearly multi-layered in meaning so its meaning for us can be complex but if we spend some time to break it open for ourselves we will notice some features that will be helpful and encouraging for ourselves.
First we are told that there are seven disciples present. Now in Jesus time seven is a number which indicates perfection. The implication then is that when the community gathers to joyfully celebrate the continued living presence of the resurrected Jesus with a meal it is a perfect community. We need to hear that because that is not only true for the Christians back in those early years. It is true for us today. When we are gathered by the living Christ to celebrate his living presence with exuberant joy over a shared meal we too are a perfect community.
Next we need to note that the Greek word used here for the "appearance" of the living Jesus is unusual. It is a word which has the implication that the appearance is more than physical. It is a transcendent experience and by using the same word it replicates the experience of Mary Magdalene. So the two prominent disciples here, Peter and the Beloved Disciple, and later all the others have the same experience that Jesus is alive. Again the implication for us is that we too are capable of that same experience of the living Christ present within us and among us,
In order that we don't make any mistakes, the story of the miraculous catch of fish underlines Jesus' divinity. Only the Divine One has power over the natural world was a belief at the time of Jesus. So, as with the calming of the storm, the living Jesus now shows his divinity.
Clearly the meal described here is nothing like the Last Supper story as described in Matthew, Mark and Luke. This is not a Passover type meal with bread and wine. Instead this breakfast meal recalls the miraculous feeding of the crowd with bread and fish told by John in chapter six of the Gospel where he goes on to record Jesus' teaching on the Eucharistic presence. (I may be interesting to remember that in the early church the Eucharist often began in the evening continuing through the night with readings and teachings and ending with a meal at dawn.)
Finally the interrogation of Peter clearly indicates the centrality of love in this whole encounter. Although the questions are aimed at Peter as leader it surely implies that all those gathered there are motivated by love. Peter is required to have a deep personal and loving relationship with the living Christ as an integral part of his ministry. Those of us who gather today to continue this story are likewise to be motivated by love both for the community and for the living Christ, indeed for all creation. It is this energy of love that enables us to fulfil the final injunction of Jesus to; "Follow me." It is the transcendent quality of love that catches us up into a dynamic participation in the life of the One who is "The Way the Truth and the Life." So don't stop now, let love draw you on!
