Third Sunday of Easter, May 1, 2022 (May Day)
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
If you want someone to come to your funeral, you have to go to theirs
When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.
Peter had eaten bread and fish that Jesus cooked over the fire. His breakfast strengthened him after a fruitless night of fishing. Well … fruitless until Jesus touched the water and 153 large fish jumped into their nets as the sun rose. Peter caught himself wondering about Jesus, as he always had. How did he know his fishing friends would be here? What did Jesus think about Peter’s denials? And why did he ask me if I loved him three times?
Yes Lord, you know that I love you.
Now that I think about it, I guess he asked me three times because I said I did not know him three times. And sitting here beside the fire, as he looks at me with that puzzling smile of his, I feel better than I have ever since that horrible night when he was stolen from us and I said, “No! I don’t know that man.”
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.
Sometimes I think of my mother, old, crippled, sick a lot, approaching death. Jesus healed her one fine day three years ago, and she got right up out of bed and fixed him dinner. She fixed dinner for all of us, but I saw how she looked at Jesus, almost as if he were courting her, shy, happy, obviously in love.
But she was old then, and she’s older now, and she doesn’t get around like she did. Jesus says I’ll get that way too. Captured by age and infirmity, by soldiers, and by jealous, righteous, angry Jewish experts in the law, I will suffer.
Someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.
Peter thinks, “I can’t wait! I want to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. I do.”
The apostles left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
Five hundred or more people attended Sharon’s memorial service Saturday morning. Margaret and I were among them. After her cancer diagnosis in January last year she gradually grew weaker, especially at the end. We sang “It is Well with My Soul,” which were some of the last words her husband and daughters heard her say. Her biography was headlined, “A Full Life, Well Lived.”
But now she had “ascended into heaven,” and we listened to the bursts of angel wings, danced under the Spirit’s fire, and celebrated the healings of Jesus in our own lives. Did not our hearts burn within us when we sang “How Great Thou Art” at the top of our lungs?
Last night Sharon’s husband David went to bed alone. Not for the first night of course did he sleep alone, but now the bells have tolled, and last night was different from all the rest. David knelt beside the bed, prayed the Lord’s Prayer, and wept. He crawled under the covers and curled up, soft pillow between his legs, and watched the candle burn. He listened to the warm, and finally, gratefully, slept. There was nothing else for him to do.
When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. And when he had said this, he said to Peter, “Follow me.”
Peter’s mom, Simon Peter himself, Sharon, David … we lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make us dwell in safety. What dreams may come might be peppered dark, but then they carry us to rest in green pastures. Jesus feeds us bread and fish, nourishes our souls with his infinite unconditional forgiveness, and invites us to follow him home.
(Acts 5, Psalm 30, Revelation 5, John 21)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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