Rev. Vicky Hanjian was our guest pastor and preached on John 21:1-17. It was an inspiring sermon..see below.
Breakfast on the Beach
John 21:1-17
Chilmark
May 4, 2025
Vicky Hanjian
There had been a terrible breach of the friendship between Peter and Jesus. At a point when Peter might have shown incredible courage by affirming that, yes, he was one of Jesus followers, he chose rather to deny this when the going got tough. Three times when questioned and accused about his relationship with Jesus, he backed off – – “I do not know this man.” And then crucifixion happened – – and there was no chance to make things right – – to say I’m sorry. Peter wept, of course. Any of us would do the same. Imagine the shame, the guilt, the sorrow involved in turning the other way when we might have done something more courageous.
I know Peter all too well – and I suspect that at one time or another, all of us have joined him in the courtyard on the night before Jesus died – – hiding in some dark corner of our own souls because we didn’t have what it took in the way of courage or commitment or integrity to meet a challenging moment head on.
Our ability to stand in the center of the truth that Jesus taught has been and continues to be sorely challenged in these uncertain times. It is sometimes hard to know in the midst of fear and anxiety, and confusion and chaos – – hard to know in the midst of it all just how we are to demonstrate that we do indeed know the way this Jesus taught. Sometimes it is just easier and safer to be quiet, to pull back into the shadows, let things run their course and hope for the best.
But there is this nagging question that whispers down to us across the ages: “Do you love me?” Crucifixion happens. All 4 gospels spell it out, but only John records the epilogue we just heard.
A frustrating fishing expedition. All night long, time after time, the nets come up empty. I wonder if those of you who fish would really appreciate the suggestion to try throwing your nets off the other side of the boat. I have often thought this took a bit of courage on Jesus’ part. Be that as it may, the fishermen throw their net over the right side of the boast and the net fills with fish. One of the men recognizes Jesus standing onthe shoreline. In a flash Peter is over the side and on his way to the shore. Now – there is a bit of comic relief here. Peter had stripped down to a loincloth for the full night of fishing but before he jumped in the water, he put all his clothes back on and slogged through the water fully dressed.
The others follow. Breakfast is on the grill – – fish and bread – – Imagine the moment. No one asks who invites them – – they already know – – and yet the Living Presence of Jesus defies credulity. He died – – they witnessed it. But he is alive – -and they witness this as well.
The crux of the encounter unfolds after breakfast. Try to imagine the confrontation: Do you love me?….It is hard to stay in the shadows of our own reluctance, our own lack of courage, our own confusion about what of it means to love and follow The Jesus Way when he stands right in front of us and asks us point blank “Do you love me?”
Maybe the answer would erupt right out of us as it did with Peter – “Yes, Jesus, you know I love you!” In a forceful formula, Jesus asks Peter three times and each time Peter affirms his love for Jesus – – and then the mighty act of forgiveness and restoration happens – – – – Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep.” A triple formula that wipes away the terrible shame and guilt and sadness that comes with refusing to be identifiedwith Jesus. Three times of denial – – three days in the tomb – – three chances to say “yes – Jesus – you know I love you” – – and three challenges to Peter to live out his love for the Risen Christ.
There is no condemnation – – no confession of guilt – – no recriminations – – no shaming – – no scolding – -only the offer of the restoration to right relationship – – and the call to get to work. Jesus trusts what he originally saw in Peter earlier in the gospels – – Peter The Rock.
It is no secret that we often stand in Peter’s sandals. What we often miss though, is that when we stand in Peter’s sandals, we stand directly in the presence of the Risen One. Maybe we are half naked in our brokenness, in our inability to even come up to our own expectations – – or maybe we are weighed down with sopping wet clothing that makes it difficult for us to move freely toward the One who waits for us on the shoreline.
The giving and receiving of forgiveness is seldom easy. Sometime it is hard for us to forgive others. Sometimes it is even harder for us to receive forgiveness from someone else – – because it may mean owning we have been wrong. All kinds of things get in the way – – pride – – the need for an adequate apology – – the need for reparations – – all kinds of conditions that must be met before forgiveness can become a reality.
On the world scale nations can’t forgive. Conditions have to be met. Criminals have to be identified – – punishment must be meted out – – a rigid justice without mercy prevails. The work of reconciliation and restoration of right relationships may take generations – – and . . . . well….the sheep just wait to be fed. The critical work of attending to the souls and bodies and minds of all who wait is put on “hold” while we expend our energy in being uncertain, or fearful or prideful. Consequently, our metaphorical nets can quite often feel empty. Our human condition might be compared to a long night of fishing and a sunrise with empty nets. Not much to show for our efforts.
But the aroma of grilled fish and bread reaches our nostrils and a voice invites us to breakfast. When we respond to the invitation to be in the presence of the Living One, we are responding to an invitation to be fully in the Present. This is the mystery of life in the resurrection – life in the present moment – life in the Presence of Christ.
Jesus died. His death was a physical event, a cruel finite event that happened at a point in history. But The Christ, the eternal manifestation of the Holy in all things at all times, appears at every moment to issue the invitation to any who will listen – – – if you love me, then be about the business of being Christ in the world.
We do, indeed, stand in Peter’s sandals. Maybe cold and shivering – – but Jesus asks the same question of us: Do you love me? It is an encoded question. In those simple words, The Risen One asks “Are you of 3 3 willing to awaken to your true nature as the offspring of God?” “Are you willing to live in my Presence with every breath?” “Are you willing to be Christ for others?”
There are no blueprints in the story for what it means to “feed my sheep.” We most often interpret the command to mean that we need to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, heal the sick and treat the stranger within our gates with care and respect. If only we were able to do this much to our fullest capacity, the world might be a very different place – -and there is more…..so much more.
“Do you love me?” The answer we give shapes our identity and empowers our response to the world around us. “Do you love me?” – – If the answer is “Yes!” it will rattle us out of the limitations of our belief systems about the world and about ourselves. If the answer is “Yes!” it will narrow the gap between “us” and “them.” If the answer is “Yes!” it will move us from a cramped place of fear into a spacious realm of lovingkindness and compassion, into a world where every act of justice is informed and invaded by wisdom and mercy.
When we say unequivocally “Yes – you know that I love you!” we take the first step toward allowing our identity to be molded and shaped by the risen One. This is an act of surrender – an act of submission – – not to some external power or demand upon our energies, but to an inward and powerful force that will guide us into all that we are to become.
The specific feeding? – – the work with the sheep? – – that unfolds as each moment arises and we respond out of an awakened Christ consciousness dwelling deep within each one of us.
We are in the 3rd week of Easter. The resurrection is fresh in our minds. the Presence of the Risen One is real – – it calls to us from darkened courtyards, from an empty cross, from a vacant tomb – – from a distant lakeshore. The Christ Presence calls out “Do you love me? Our response determines everything. AMEN