Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter 2010
Sirach 18:1-14 John 21:1-19
17 April 2010

by Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB

On Ash Wednesday, Father Meinrad invited us in his homily to take a plunge into Lent. He encouraged us to take a deep breath and dive into the water. He said it would be a shock to our system as we encountered the cold water but after being there awhile we would get accustom to it and it would feel good. Tonight we are encouraged to take another plunge after having come out of the waters of our Lenten journey. We are invited to dive into the Easter waters of our Baptism, the Easter waters of our monastic profession and our Oblate candidates are invited to plunge into the Easter waters of making their Benedictine Oblation.

This plunge calls for courage, “letting go”, persistent trust, taking a deep breath, having a great big heart and total commitment. In the reading we just heard, Peter literally jumped into the water. The apostles likewise were invited to take this plunge even as they tried to figure out the events of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Tonight we are summoned to commit and re-commit ourselves to the Risen Jesus.

Several years I was invited to give a reflection on this Gospel at St. Peter’s Parish. I was excited about this Resurrection story because I had just learned to throw a fish net in Lake Perry and had caught some shad. I thought it would be a good idea to bring a fish net as part of my reflection because I knew at least the kids, if not some adults, had never seen what a fish net looked like that would have been used by Jesus and the apostles. A friend had just bought a brand new net and suggested I use that one instead of the one that was “fishy” smelling. It was about a foot bigger than the one I had thrown. I began my reflection by moving to the middle aisle and showing everyone the net. I did not intend to throw the net but only to demonstrate how you had to hold the net before throwing it. Because the net was much bigger and stiffer, the net went up over my head, covering my face and catching hold of my ear ring. After a few seconds, I did manage to get the net off my head, but not without having my ear ring fly across the sanctuary. As you can imagine the parishioners were spell bound. I managed to say: “This is not the way to throw a net.” Then, believe it or not, I went on with my reflection.

This scene, still very vivid in my mind, came back to me as once again I reflected on this Gospel. It came back to me because I can identify with the apostles and the humor that is so prominent in the first part of this Gospel.

The apostles seemed lost, confused, and distraught since they experienced the death of their friend Jesus even though He has appeared to them twice since the Resurrection. You get the sense that they don’t know what to do, are wondering aimlessly and are trying to figure things out. Peter suggests that they do something that is very familiar and ordinary to them. They go fishing. The seven apostles get into the boat and catch nothing through the night. You wondered if they really tried or if they were doing lots of talking and male bonding. At daybreak, a stranger from the shore suggests that they throw from the starboard side. Jesus could probably see the fish making little ripples while the apostles seem to be numb and unaware of what was going on around them. Imagine their surprise when they cast the net and it overflows with fish. The action begins. John recognizes Jesus. Peter immediately puts on some clothes and jumps into the water. Peter, true to form, “acts before he thinks”. You cannot help but be inspired by his eagerness, his desire to understand and his willingness to plunge into the mystery. The disciples pull in the catch of fish. Jesus already had fish on the fire and bread ready and he bids them to eat. So many details not included and yet we have the 153 fish that were counted. Does not all of this suggests abundance. This familiar action of eating centers the disciples, enables them to recognize the risen Jesus and prepares them for mission.

Another important part of this story is the dialogue that take place between Jesus and Peter. There are only two places in the Gospels where a charcoal fire appears. One is when Peter is warming himself at the praetorium and Peter denies Jesus three different times. Tonight we have another charcoal fire and Jesus ask Peter for a three-fold pledge of his love. The denials are forgiven, forgotten and healed. Jesus boldly and directly asks Peter to carry out his mission: “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep”. Peter plunges into the waters of Resurrection and it will mean his death.

Oblate candidates, you are invited to take a plunge not only into the Easter water but into the life as a Benedictine Oblate. Like Peter you are asked tonight to follow Jesus, to pledge your love to him, and to us, as you follow the Rule of Benedict. This means a firm commitment to live Gospel values. You must desire to prefer nothing to the love of Christ and to run on the path of God’s commandments with hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love. You are not alone, we are here to help and assist you.

How often do we believers, like Peter and the apostles, get out of focus, wander aimlessly, become frightened and confused? When we come together to eat the bread and drink the wine of the Eucharist and gather around at our meal table, are we strengthened to go forth to live out our mission? Do we pledge our love for Jesus over and over again even in the midst of our failings? Are we ready and willing to take the plunge and be submerged in the Easter mystery of life, death and resurrection? If the answer is no, then lets go fishing or do something that is familiar to us to get ourselves focused. If the answer is yes, then let us dive into the Easter waters and be Easter people.

As many of us read in our booklet, “Daily Reflections for Lent” the Easter Sunday meditation describes how Gerard Manley Hopkins was greatly moved by the story of a German ship that sank in the North Sea in 1875. Five Franciscan sisters gave up their life so that others might be rescued. At the end of his poem, The Wreck of the Deutschland dedicated to these sisters, he writes: “Let him easter in us, be a dayspring to the dimness of us...” Easter for Hopkins was used as a verb; as a nautical term, to easter means to steer a ship eastward, into the light. The reflection continues: “‘Let him easter in us’, that we may live in the light of his compassion, peace, justice and forgiveness. ‘Let him easter in us’ that we may be a healer like him, a teacher like him, a footwasher like him. ‘Let him easter in us’ that we may bear our crosses for one another as he bore his cross for us. ‘Let him easter in us’ that we may, at the end of our voyage, ‘easter’ in him.”

© 2010 Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica
Atchison, Kansas