“Simon Peter, Thomas,  Nathanael , the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his were together.
Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing."

   John 21:2b-3

Life has a way of turning sideways on us at times.  Things can be going along ‘hunkie dorie’ one minute and the very next the bottom falls out…you find yourself in the midst of chaos, tragedy, crisis, grief, and fear.  A routine visit to the doctor, a few tests are run and with just one word your whole life is turned upside down – cancer.  It’s the end of another week of work, you’ve given the car to your teenager for the night and you’re happy to sit on the couch and flick thru the all the TV channels.  Suddenly the phone rings and you answer it and hear the word that changes everything – accident.

There were only two weeks of school left at Virginia Tech.  Exam schedules were out and students were just finishing up papers and studying for finals.  It’s a fairly quiet time on campus – especially at 9:15 in the morning!  But then out of nowhere and for no reason, gunfire broke out, first in a residence hall and later at Norris Hall, and by the time in ended, 33 people lay dead or dying…and as many more were injured.  In no time the quiet campus is crawling with police, then paramedics, then news reporters, and then parents who’ve come to comfort their children.  Quiet gives way to chaos, routine dissolves into crisis.

What do you do when life turns sideways on you?  Where do you go, who do you call, what sorts of things do you do to help find your way again?  I think most people do the same thing really - they turn to the familiar…whatever is most familiar, wherever is most familiar, whoever is most familiar, that’s where they will turn.  Last Wednesday I spoke to Brian Snyder – a member of Hidenwood and a senior at Virginia Tech.  He said that campus was very quiet by Wednesday because so many of the students had gone home.  Many of them were actually picked up by their parents the same day as the shooting.  Home is the most familiar place of all, isn’t it?  Some don’t have that luxury because they live too far away so they will turn to other familiar things – hang with their friends, play their favorite music, chat or text online.  I have a friend who sits down and plays her flute whenever life gets complicated – it’s good therapy. 

What does the apostle Peter do?  He announces, “I’m going fishing.”  And the other disciples said, “We’re coming too.”  So they all pile into a boat and pull out to sea.  Fishing was most familiar to Peter – he’d been a fisherman long before he was ever a disciple.  So it’s no wonder that when life goes sideways that he picks up his nets and heads for the open water.  And what is it that precipitates that decision?  He’s upset because his Lord has gone away.  Jesus is no longer with his disciples – he’s ascended to be with the Father.  In the last chapter Jesus announces this will happen: “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”  But when it happens it leaves a huge hole in Peter and the other disciple’s lives.  Life is turned upside down. They are lost.  What are we supposed to do now?

Now, being a bit of a fisherman myself, I can understand Peter’s decision to go fishing.  Fishing for me has always been a bit of a spiritual event for me…a way to experience God in my life.  My grandfather used to own a stretch of the Rocky Saugeen – a renowned trout-fishing river.  And I have always enjoyed going to her banks, walking along her riverbed in my running shoes, feeling the cold current against my legs and the hot sun on my back, casting into pools and trying to catch the allusive trout.
So the words “I’m going fishing” doesn’t ring hollow to me…it’s not escapist language.  And yet that’s the conclusion that many commentators come to on this passage.  They suggest that Peter is running away from discipleship and from his Lord by going fishing.  But I think Peter is just doing what we all do at such times – turning to that which is familiar…the Sea of Galilee is a place where he can do some deep thinking, sort out the events of recent days and decide what to do next.  It seems like a good choice to me – after all, wasn’t it from their boats that Jesus first called Peter to follow him?  “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”   Maybe the Lord would call to him again from his boat.  “I’m going fishing.”

Now, the fishing wasn’t very good that night.  Maybe Peter had lost his touch; it’s been a few years.  Or maybe it was just what we fishermen call “bad luck.”  Or maybe catching no fish  reflects the futility of human effort in some situations.  Sometimes we can do great things…but not all the time.  Ever pull an all-nighter on an essay and come daybreak you read what you’ve come up with and wonder why you bothered?  Sometimes our best intentions and best efforts just aren’t enough.  I’m reminded of Brian Snyder’s words to me: “I don’t know how things can ever be normal again after what’s happened.”  (All the kings’ horses and all the king’s men…)

John tells us that the disciples fished all night and caught nothing.  But as they approached shore they saw someone standing there – couldn’t quite make out who.  He called to them:  “Children, you have no fish, have you?” (Actually the word “lads” might be a better interpretation of the Greek word “paidia.”)
“No” they reply.
“Cast your nets on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

So they do as they’re told, foolish as it is to cast nets into shallow water, and immediately their nets are filled to the breaking point with fish…so many they can’t even haul the nets back on board!  One of the disciples recognizes the fellow on shore as Jesus and he tells the others.  Peter is so excited that he forgets all about the fish, jumps into the water and rushes ashore to greet him.  Jesus already had a charcoal fire going and asked Peter to bring some of the fish they had caught.  They hauled the net ashore – they counted 153 fish…an amazing catch.  And then Jesus said to them:  “Come and have breakfast”…so they sat down to fish and bread right there on the shore…a seaside communion of sorts.

It was during that meal that Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me” three times.  And three times Peter replied, “Lord, you know that I love you.”  And then three times he said to Peter “Feed my sheep.”  (How many times did Peter deny his Lord at the time of Jesus’ trial?  Coincidence?  I think not.)

So after a long unproductive night of fishing the disciples sit down to a simple meal by the seashore made ready by their Lord.  And here their hungering souls are fed and Peter, who thought his future as a disciple was in question, is called anew by the Lord.

Why does John tell this story to the early church?  How does it speak to them?  And what does it have to offer our hungering souls on this day?  I think it is a reminder of the importance of community.  Life is best shared and faith is best lived out in community, especially a community of faith.  It is a lesson my wife and I are learning all over again since she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  This community has been a true blessing to us both through this ordeal of ours…meals each night, countless cards, flowers, gifts, phone calls and visits.  It’s a reminder that we aren’t alone in this – we kind of feel like that Verizon commercial where the guy turns around and there is a whole multitude of Verizon workers standing behind him.  I wouldn’t want to go through this without the strength of a community behind us!  In community our joys are multiplied and our burdens are divided.

This week when tragedy struck Virginia Tech the staff at Hidenwood scrambled to find out what students we had on campus there.  We came come up with six names (and if there are more let us know) – Kelley Ritchie, Brian Snyder, Michael Dubay, Alex Ayers, Chandler Givens, Deanna Privette, and Matt Callis.  I emailed them the entire following note on Wednesday night.

Dear Kelley, Brian, Alex, Michael, Chandler, Deanna and Matt:

    We want you to know that the staff at Hidenwood Presbyterian Church is holding you all in prayer at this time.  When we first heard about the massacre at Virginia Tech we scrambled to figure out just who from our congregation was on campus there and to ascertain their status.  Brian Snyder proved to be a big help in this matter and even provided us with emails for you all.  Thank you, Brian.

    The events of this week have shocked us all.  Although there is no way to make any sense of such violence, we want you to know that your church community is thinking about you and holds you in prayer.  This Sunday we will be praying for you specifically and for the entire student body at Virginia Tech as they deal with the chaos and grief of this tragedy.   If you are home for the weekend we would invite you to join us for worship.  

    Our staff has also written cards to each of you and would like to mail them to you directly.  If you are still in residence please forward your address to me so we can send the card directly.  Otherwise we will simply mail the cards to your home address.

    Brian stated that he can’t imagine life returning to normal after something like this.  It will certainly take more than time to heal something of this nature.  Know that your church community is one of many that is there to help you through this.  We not only pray for you but avail ourselves to you and your needs.  Please keep in touch and let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

    Peace be with you,

    Rev. Bill Lamont

I’ve already heard back from several of the students – each of them expressing their appreciation for the prayers and support of their community of faith.  Some expressed the importance of their faith at this time.  Community is vitally important for the journey of life…because life has its ups and downs.  The gospel writer John knew this – which is why his gospel is so intensely relational.  Jesus in John’s gospel is not so much a teacher as a friend.  In chapter 1 he writes, “The Word became flesh”…God took on flesh and blood in Jesus Christ.  And all through this gospel the emphasis isn’t on doctrine but on relationship – the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, raising of Lazarus, the appearance to Mary on Easter morning, dealing with Thomas’ doubt, breathing on each disciple so they receive the Holy Spirit…all the I Am statements in this gospel express intimacy.  And now this passage as well.   Although our Lord has completed his earthly ministry…he hasn’t left us, he’s still present, filling our empty nets, feeding our hunger, guiding and directing his followers…even the wayward ones like Peter. 

This is the last Easter appearance of Jesus in the gospel and perhaps the most important one.  It reminds us that the risen Christ comes to us in community.  “Whenever two or more are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst.”  Easter is about new beginnings and new beginnings grow out of the gathered community.  So let the community gather together on this day, let us find Christ in our midst, and let there be a new beginning for us all.  The destructive power of a lone gunman is no match for the power of the gathered community of God.  We are Easter people – empowered to heal, restore, and redeem in the name of Christ.  Let us go together and do just that.

Amen