Sunday, April 3, 2016

Sunday, April 3, 2016

John 21:4-8

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

Love sees

Only Love truly sees.  Love alone opens our heart to see the truth and need, the pain and joy of another human heart. Only love, a truly Great Love, evaporates our defenses so that we may be seen for what we are, in all our beauty and brokenness.

So it is not a surprise to me that it is the one you especially love who first recognizes you, Jesus.

When you are greatly loved … and greatly love …your senses are tuned to any and every sign of the Heart whose presence brings you joy.

The abundance of fish is a sign of the abundance of your love and life. But it is the one with whom you shared closest intimacy that sees beyond the outward sign to you. Your love of him … and his of you … opens his eyes that he may know you beyond, behind and within this moment at the shore.

He sees and knows … you are the Eternal Abundance of Love and Life who fills his heart as full as the net he hauls to the boat … and always will.

You are the fullness of God’s heart seeking to catch us all in your great net, bringing us home to the Love who is and was and ever shall be.

Moments come when I feel and know exactly what he knew that day on the shore. He saw and knew … you. And for the rest of his life, that is all he truly needed.

Pr. David L. Miller