The Ninth Stopping Point

Paul Skippen

26 Apr 2023

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Community

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Jesus Eats With His Disciples by the Sea of Tiberias

The Call to Prayer

 

 

Alleluia Lord! Praise You!
With all of our hearts, we come to hear the Word of the Lord.
Sing Alleluia Lord!

Alleluia (John Burland) (from One Family collection)
Words & Music © 2002, John Burland
Published by Ovation Music Services. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Leader :

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All :

Because by the wood of the cross and the light of the resurrection, you have redeemed the world.

The Scripture

John 21: 10 – 12

Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught”. Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore – 153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip. Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready”. Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.

The Reflection

Jesus deliberately asked Peter to bring to the fire some of the fish he had just caught. In this “bringing,” Peter’s eyes are opened. Such abundance! Jesus’ delight must have been brimming over. Ready to abandon the night’s useless toil, and with dashed hopes, the disciples obey his direction and cast the net on the other side of the boat. Now he was ending their hungry weariness with breakfast on the shore. Jesus is always ready to tend to our every need. He wants to be part of our lives, our energy, our being. He offers food of renewal for our weariness, and our being is sustained. Jesus opens our eyes to the treasure of our own being and that of our neighbour. He understands, reveals, and fulfills our deepest needs. He wants to live in us, in our every heartbeat and breath. By bringing all we are to him, we welcome him as our source of nourishment and life.

The Prayer

O Risen Jesus, we bring you what you ask of us – all the parts of our lives. Flood our souls with gratitude for all the ways you fill us with abundance, in times of plenty and times of lack. Always aware of you as our source, may we freely and generously share our blessings with one another. Nothing and no one else sustains us. Each day, call us to bring to you all that we are and all that we have. Let us live and move and have our being in you. Show us how to breathe in your peace and live out your love. Amen. Alleluia.

The Commissioning

 

 

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

Christ, Be Our Light © 1993, Bernadette Farrell.
Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Used with permission.