Fishin’

Third Sunday of Easter; John 21:1-19

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going out to fish.”

In this Gospel, we find the Apostles hanging around in Galilee.  Peter must have been bored or something because he utters words so many guys have said over the eons: “Let’s go fishin.” Maybe he wasn’t necessarily bored as much as he just didn’t know what else to do. I can relate. There have been many times when I had to wait for something, and I couldn’t stand the sitting around. So, I go and find something – anything! – to do.

Maybe it’s a guy thing, but we tend to want to DO. I recall when my mother was killed, a dear friend called me several times asking what he could do to help. I kept telling him that, unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. In exasperation, he cried out, “But I have to DO something!”

Thankfully, Jesus shows up to talk to Peter and the others and helps them see that the DOING they are supposed to be doing is not busy work but tending to God’s people. Being fishers of people and feeding the lambs. It’s probably not exactly what they thought they’d be doing, now is it? No carpentry, no painting or electrical or cooking or truck driving or cleaning. As we will see in the remainder of the New Testament, what they did a lot of was talking. And listening. And responding.

Often times, it’s easier to do the ‘doing.’ Put a hammer or a shovel in my hand and I know exactly what I’m supposed to do. But when I am confronted with listening and responding, well, that's not always in my wheelhouse. And yet…somehow I am able to do it. I know it’s not me, however, doing the responding. That's the Spirit. Whenever I find myself acting brave and fearless, I know God is with me. The apostles knew that feeling so well as we hear in the Acts of the Apostles. “The apostles left… full of joy that they had been judged worthy to suffer shame for the sake of the Name.” [Acts 5:41]

So, when I get approached by someone who wants to talk about their faith or their life or something, I need to slow down and listen. And be brave and sure that God is right there with me. That’s where we start to “feed the sheep”.  I need to hear their story so I can respond with God’s love and mercy.

Now don’t get me wrong. There are many, many instances when it is all about the doing. I need to be God’s hands and feet just as much as I am His ears and mouth in this world. But if all I do is DO, well then, I am not doing everything that I am supposed to do. As some wise guy once said, “Don’t just do something, stand there!” Who knew that was a Gospel value?

Every Day.

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