Easter 3C

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

As a church we have recently celebrated Holy Week and Easter Day - the suffering and death of Jesus - followed by the resurrection.  

As Easter continues we reflect on the words and actions of the risen Jesus in the gospels and the book of Acts. 

In John’s gospel Jesus appears to the disciples again - and he has a conversation with Peter - in which he instructs him to feed his lambs. 

In Acts - Jesus appears to Paul and to Ananias - the passage gives us a glimpse of Paul’s call as Jesus relates it to Ananias “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

*  *  *

Finally - we read the book of Revelation - a mysterious book that tries to put into words some mysteries that are beyond our grasp - some poetry of heaven…  (If you’re a reader of Revelation and it confuses you - remember that human words will never describe the beauty of a heavenly God - and we have to be content with mystery.)

But let me just offer you this glimpse from 5:13: 

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

Close your eyes and imagine that scene for a moment:  All of creation in harmony - birds, people, politicians, street sweepers, worms, fish, elephants singing praise to God with one harmonious and beautiful voice… - a picture of beautiful harmony.

Revelation paints a picture of the goal - the final reality… human words paint a frail picture of it - but they give you some idea…

(Pretending that the person next to you has never tasted chocolate - try to describe chocolate to them… - 30 seconds - and you’re not allowed to use the words chocolate or chocolaty - because they’ve never tasted it.) 

If you can’t find words to describe chocolate - think how John must have struggled to describe something as wonderful as heaven.

*  *  *

So what has this got to do with Peter and Paul’s calling? 

Jesus tells Peter to feed the lambs, and he tells Ananias about what Paul will do:  He will take his name / his message / what he stands for to the Gentiles and Kings and all the People of Israel (9:15).

Just before the wonderful picture that we read in Revelation the creatures in heaven sing:  “…you were slain and with your blood you purchased people for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God…” (5:9-10)

People from everywhere are priests to serve God…

That’s us.  Not us as in the ordained people, or lay people that stand up here and preach from week to week - not some special class - but every one of us; priests - making God’s presence in the world; real.

*  *  *

So we turn to the call of Peter.  (John 21:1-19)

He and the other disciples have already seen the resurrected Jesus…

Jesus appeared to them in the upper room - when it was locked; he breathed his spirit on them and he said to them: “As the Father has sent me so I send you.” (20:21)

A week later - in spite of the fact that they have been sent - they’re up there again; and Jesus appears again.

The third time he finds them fishing.

I love disciples - they’re an example to the church, and an example we have followed ever since:  God says to us Go!

And we stay.

God says Go!  We say Amen Hallelujah, wonderful - beautiful - I can hear the angels singing in heaven.

And we stay.

Jesus lives with them, teaches them, dies in front of their eyes - rises again and says: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you…”

And they go fishing.

(After 2000 years if Jesus could work with them, by his grace, he can also work with us.)

*  *  *

Peter - like us - is a bit slow to get what Jesus is saying; or maybe he’s a bit scared to do what Jesus has called him to do.

So having reminded the disciples who he is - and he is quite graceful - they haven’t caught any fish - but he helps them to find some…

Jesus has a conversation with Peter:

Do you love me?
Yes.

Feed my sheep.

Do you love me?
Yes.

Shepherd my sheep.

Do you love me?
Yes.

Feed my sheep.

*  *  *

His conversation is a call to Peter and a call to all of us…  If Jesus said to any of us:  “Do you love me?”

And we said: “Yes, you know that I love you.”

I think we all know that his next words (to us as they were to Peter) would also be:  “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus’ call to us - as people who trust in the reality of the resurrection; Christian people, is to carry on doing what he began.  To work as priests and partners with God towards this amazing reality of which we read in the book of Revelation.  A world in such harmony that every creature in the universe bows down to worship the risen Jesus.

*  *  *

As we hear that challenge to us - “if you love me you will feed my sheep” - we feel a bit uncomfortable don’t we.  We would rather it was Peter’s job.

But its not - it is each of ours - we are a kingdom of priests.

And sheep feeding is not a matter of throwing them a few bunches of grass - like I do with my dogs in the morning - I fill their bowls and they eat.

Feeding sheep - means to graze them, to shepherd them - to go with them to the field where they eat - it means (among other things) to protect them from any harm that might come their way - to care for them if they get sick.

Jesus call is a tall order! 

It is a call to getting involved in the lives of those people whom Jesus might call “my sheep” and the Jesus I know has a very big flock - wider than we imagine. 

For Peter, this job of continuing Jesus’ ministry is actually going to be very difficult - the gospel account suggests that following Jesus might eventually result in Peter’s own execution by crucifixion.

*  *  *

The passage from Acts speaks about Paul (who’s also known as Saul)’s conversion - and his call - a call to work for the good of the very people he was at that moment out to kill.

Paul is a leading Pharisee - he is extremely faithful to God!  He is in fact so faithful to God that he is carrying out the letter of the law (Lev 24) that demands that blasphemers be put to death.  (7:58 - 8:3)

But Jesus in his mercy jumped in - he appears to him in a light from heaven on the road to Damascus and asks “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 

Paul is blinded - he is sent to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias who in spite of his initial prejudice (Saul was famous for persecuting Christians) welcomes him as a brother and baptises him and sends him on his way to becoming a great evangelist to the Gentiles.

What I love about Paul’s call is the absolute about turn.  From being someone who deliberately persecutes Hebrew and Gentile Christians - he is called into a completely unfamiliar world; a world against which he is greatly prejudiced.

And he goes forward and does a wonderful job of shepherding God’s people a world completely different from what he is used to.

Because of his faithfulness - which is a result of Jesus faithfulness - we hear that singing which John writes about in Revelation - “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing.”

*  *  *

Paul is called, Peter is called - the world is slowly transformed - by God with the help of people.

How are we Christians called to live as a result of Easter faith - as a result of our real belief in the resurrection?

*  *  *

For me it was finding the courage to candidate and begin the journey towards becoming an ordained minister.

For Peter it was about realising that he was called to Shepherd Christ’s sheep.

For Paul it was about going to the gentiles to share the gospel with them.

Although God calls us in love - just about every calling will demand some sacrifice in achieving it - Jesus lets Ananias know that Paul will suffer in his calling.  Jesus tells Peter that he will also suffer a bit - but ultimately its about following God…

And the end - is that picture in Revelation of a world praising God in harmony.

*  *  *

Perhaps God is calling you to be a good shepherd by helping to wash the dishes at home.

Perhaps God is calling you to be a good shepherd by helping to mow your sick or elderly neighbour’s lawn (you might suffer a bit) but when they ask you why -  you can say: “Because I believe in the resurrection, and I hope for a world in which every creature worships God in harmony.”

Perhaps God is calling you to be a good shepherd by changing the way you treat your wife or your family.

Perhaps God is calling you - like he called Paul - to go out and show his love to people you previously didn’t like at all.  Calling you to break down your long held beliefs and help him to extend his love beyond the boundaries which you have set for him.

I don’t know where God is calling you… but I think you might have some idea.

And I pray that by the Holy Spirit we might hear that call whispered to us - and we will not be afraid to act - because we hope for a world in which every creature worships God in harmony.

When we listen - and we obey - then I truly believe we will begin to see the Kingdom of God in this Place.

Amen.