Sermon 10/04/16 - 10am
Hearing and Seeing Christ in our lives
May I speak in the name of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending a wedding here at church. The highlight for me was hearing David, our Director of Music, play a piece of music during the signing of all the legal documents. David played the theme from Star Wars and I admit, rather embarrassingly, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It reminds me of my childhood and when I first saw Star Wars as an 6 year old. It is an echo of my childhood and part my personal history.
This morning’s Gospel is a full of reminders and echoes from the ministry of Jesus before he died and rose again. It is a reminder of when the disciples, as fishermen, first met our Lord and Saviour. They saw something dynamic in Jesus and were drawn to him. In fact this draw was so dynamic that they were willing to throw their nets in with him. It echoes the disciples first call and is now a call to their future ministry without the physical Jesus.
St John also reminds us that Peter is of particular importance. After going through many trials, denying Jesus, being forgiven and finally seeing who Jesus really is, he is, at first, naked and makes the choice to dive into the water to meet with Jesus. There is a real understanding now for Peter of what Jesus’ death and resurrection means…and what the cost of following Jesus might mean in the future! The reading ends with Jesus questioning Peter and telling him that he may end up in places that he did not wish to go. Following Jesus is an never easy road and may mean personal sacrifice.
I particularly like this reading because I can feel the joy and excitement of the disciples…it is almost palpable isn't it? The disciples have already seen the risen Jesus and there is a special kind of expectancy on the beach. There is hope where there was once despair. Colour has returned to the world and it is particularly vibrant on that day at the beach by the sea of Tiberius.
We are in a moment of respite here and unconcerned about the darker future that is being subtly hinted at.
The disciples are, once gain, fishing and it appears that they have returned to their earlier occupations and lives but Jesus again calls to them.
This is a reminder or an echo of their first call. Jesus’ ministry on earth is not finished and Jesus has come to call to apostles to finish the work that he started. Once Jesus calls us then we remain called and he will never truly let us return to the way we were. However much we might like to…in our relationship with God we are always called to move forward and not hold on to the past.
You have probably heard the phrase ‘seeing in believing’. Revelations reminds us that hearing is also believing.
Just as the writer of Revelation, mostly likely the disciple John also the writer of our Gospel, hears the voices of the angels proclaiming God’s glory; the disciples also realise God’s glory when they hear the voice of Jesus calling them.
Life is never the same once we are called by Jesus. We can never be exactly as were. We may return to our places of work, to our families and friends but we are forever changed. Following Jesus means that we become like him and this is why Jesus refers to the disciples as ‘children’. They are part of the body of Christ, part of God’s holy family and Jesus’ followers here on earth.
It is interesting here to note that Saul, in our reading from Acts, is asked ‘why do you persecute me?” by the voice of Jesus.
Of course, in reality, Saul has only been persecuting the followers of Jesus but these followers are now Jesus’ presence here on earth; his beloved, his children. By hurting them, Saul has also been hurting Jesus himself.
Paul was also dramatically changed on the road to Damascus. Previously, as Saul, he had persecuted and executed Christians as a Pharisee. In fact Saul when he saw that bright light and heard Jesus ask those words I just mentioned…‘why do you persecute me?’ It was at that precise moment that Saul knew who Jesus was. That is why he replies ‘Who are you, Lord?’
There is a definite sense of realisation as Saul hears Jesus’ voice that Jesus is ‘Lord’. He realises that Jesus was who he claimed to be and was both human and divine.
Of course, in our Gospel reading the disciples do not recognise him at first. It is not until Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat and they catch a multitude of fish that they realise who Jesus is. It is only when they see the power of God do they see Jesus.
In him the divine and the human come together in perfect symmetry. This realisation of Jesus being who he really is through what he says and does occurs lots of times in the resurrection stories.
A few examples of this are when Mary, thinking she has seen a gardener, hears Jesus’ voice say her name and on the road to Emmaus the disciples realise who Jesus is through the breaking of bread.
This is for my why I find Holy Communion such a wonderful thing to do. It is more than simply a memorial act but a meeting of heaven and earth When we share in the body and blood of Christ we are also able to see the power of God in our lives. Jesus’ death means that we can have a close relationship with the Father, knowing that we can approach the throne of heavenly grace without fear or shame. We become His children. It is also a reminder to us that we recognise Jesus when we see the power of God in our lives too.
As we share in the bread and wine, we will also see Jesus and hear his voice. It is opportunity for us to draw close to God and one another in recognition and repentance for what he has done for us.
The fact that Peter was forgiven by Jesus and given new responsibilities, amounting to the Church’s birth and the institution of Christianity as a faith can give genuine hope to us as modern Christians.
Even though we often feel that we too deny Jesus and are unforgivable sinners we can hear the comforting voice of Jesus. He calls only for our repentance and our love.
Amen.
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