Sunday’s Gospel was from John 21. I love that particular reading.
Why?
Because it shows us Jesus cooking. That’s right. Jesus cooked!
Now, he wasn’t in the kitchen. He was on the beach. The shore of the Sea of Tiberias to be exact. And that morning’s fare? Fish.
John tells us that this was the third time that Jesus had appeared to them after the Resurrection. The night before, Peter seemed tired of waiting. He already knew that Jesus had risen. It seems that the apostles were waiting around for something to happen. In his usual style, Peter got tired of waiting. He said, “I’m going fishing.” If you remember, Peter was a fisherman by trade. It’s what he did. It’s what he knew.
I can imagine Peter getting into that boat and heading out into the water. They fished all night and caught nothing. I imagine that Peter was trying to forget his problems, to forget the waiting. I bet he didn’t think about Jesus all night. He needed the break.
In the morning they were heading back to shore, when they noticed a man standing on the shore. John, the youngest apostle, recognized that it was Jesus. He announced that news to those who were with him. Peter, again in his typical style, jumped into the water and swam to shore. He did not want to wait on the boat. It is obvious that Peter truly loved the Lord. He had been waiting and there was no way that he was going to miss the opportunity to see Jesus again.
On the shore, Jesus was cooking. I don’t think I have ever had fish for breakfast. Brunch… maybe. But I really can’t remember. What a breakfast that must have been!
You know, the bible often refers to heaven as a feast, a heavenly banquet. I don’t have to wonder who the caterer is going to be. It is going to be God himself!
Maybe this little episode in John 21 is a sneak peek of the feast that is to come.
Isn’t that exciting?
Are you ready?
Am I?
Thanks to Jean-François Chénier on Fllickr for the photo.
