Christmas III
John 21: 15-25
(The end of the four Gospels)
(The end of the four Gospels)
After they had had held their meal together, Jesus
said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others
here?
Peter answered, “Lord you know that I am your friend”.
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
And he said to him again, a second time, “Simon,
son of John, do you love me?
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I am devoted to
you.”
Jesus said to him, “Shepherd my young sheep.”
He asked him a third time, “Simon, Son of John, Are
you my friend?”
Peter was heartbroken that he could say to him the
third time, ‘Are you my friend’, and he answered, “Lord, you know all things;
therefore you know that I am devoted to you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Amen the truth I say to
you, when you were younger you girded yourself and walked wherever you wished.
But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and Another will gird you
and lead you where you do not wish to go.”
 |
| Arild Rosenkrantz |
But Peter, turning, saw the disciple whom Jesus
loved, following him. He was the one who had leaned upon his breast at the
supper and had asked, “Lord, who is it who betrays you?” When Peter now saw him, his asked, “Lord,
what of this man, what is his task?”
Jesus said to him: If is my will that he remain
until my coming, that does not affect your path. Follow me…”
From this day the story spread among the brethren
that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would
not die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until my coming, that does not
affect your path.”
This is the disciple who here bears witness to
these things and who has written all this. And we know that his testimony is
true. There are also many other things that
Jesus did. If they were to be written down one by one, I do not think
that the world itself could contain the books that would have to be written.
Christmas III, Day
Christmas III, Day
December 25, 2011
John 21: 15-25
If we want to go somewhere, first we have to decide on where
that ‘somewhere’ is, decide on a destination. Then we can plan the way there.
This, today’s third gospel reading, may seem an odd choice.
We read the traditional story from Luke of the child’s birth at the dawn
service. But now, at this third service, we hear a scene from the end of all
the gospels. Why?
It is because the birth of the Christ Child is the beginning
of a new
destination for humankind. We are being shown a particular
‘somewhere’, so that we know where we are going. The journey that begins with
angelic choirs and a small child will move, as we all do, through maturing and
dying. But that is not the end; it is just the beginning. For after His death,
Christ Jesus continues to visit, teach, encourage and strengthen his friends.
He is pointing out the pathway we are all meant to tread: the way of learning
to love and support the evolving selves of others. We are to feed the lambs,
those who are still at the beginning of the journey. We are to guide those who
are maturing, and to nourish all.
 |
| Roland Tiller |
The particulars of the journey are different for each individual.
When Peter asks about the other disciple’s path, he is told to honor his own
path, to keep following the Goal of all mankind, the Christ. For Christ will
say of Himself, ‘I AM the Alpha and the Omega, World beginning and world goal.’
Rev. 21:6 and Rev 22:13.
As the poet says:
A journey can become a sacred
thing:
Make sure, before you go,
To take the time
To bless your going forth,
To free your heart of ballast
So that the compass of your soul
Might direct you toward
The territories of spirit….
May you travel in an awakened way,
Gathered wisely into your inner
ground;
That you may not waste the
invitations
Which wait along the way to
transform you.[1]
