Information
Text: Thomas Merton (in Hinne Wagenaar, Zalige Eenvoud, 166)
Scripture Reading: John 21: 15-17 (NBV and Frisian Bible)
Music: Tomás Luis de Victoria: Tu es Petrus by Ensemble Plus Ultra
Kleaster morning Wednesday, April 21, 2021
The lives of Peter and his friends are back to square one. Jesus has been killed. Their dreams of a new life and ideals for a new world have been cruelly shattered. What should they do now? Go right back to the beginning, to life before Jesus. Back to being fishermen. But despite all their sweating and toiling, there is no catch, no yield. They struggle in the dark against the elements: wind, waves, and darkness. Then, from the shore, they receive advice to cast their nets on the other side. And they catch fish in abundance. Apparently, the best guide really is standing on the shore in the light of the early morning.
When they go ashore, they find a charcoal fire on the ground with bread and fish on it. Everything is ready to receive, share, and eat. Next comes a meeting between Peter and Jesus. How must that have felt for Peter? Three times he let Jesus down. What happens now? Perhaps he wanted Jesus to be angry with him. For Jesus to say: 'Coward, I can never trust you again. You aren't worth a penny. How dare you show your face to me? You are the last person the church will ever be built on.' But no, not a single word of reproach or anger is heard. Three times Jesus asks Peter: 'Do you love me?' Ah, that cuts much deeper than any anger ever could. Jesus leaves the choice up to Peter, but He does not deny the past. The future cannot be built on silence and denial, but only on a resolved past. Peter answers three times: Yes, I love you! That is enough. The church is not built on heroes, but on people who love Jesus and know they are vulnerable and fallible. This Peter, who knows how badly you can mess up, is allowed to become a shepherd. Because he understands the vulnerability of others.
If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.
Thomas Merton (in Hinne Wagenaar, Blessed Simplicity, 166)
Question for reflection: How do you deal with people who have let you down and broken your trust?
And also: Conversely, how do you relate to people you have let down? Do you avoid them or try to make things right?
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