This morning’s gospel reading is full of images that we can relate to in our daily lives. The disciples are going fishing. Jesus is cooking a breakfast and eating with the disciples. This is so powerful to me. That kind of meal is very close to a Filipino breakfast. Fish in the morning is typical at a Filipino breakfast table and if you add fried rice to Jesus’ menu it would have been the best breakfast for me! Today’s text is so human and filled with wonderful things. Obviously, the disciples had been through a most traumatic time. After the three hard years “on the road” with Jesus, they had lived through the despair and horror of his death, and the joy of meeting him again after his resurrection. The disciples were perplexed. Jesus commissioned them for a life of service. At this moment, life for the disciples was changing dramatically. They must have felt exhausted by the pressures; overjoyed and yet fearful, wondering what was going to happen to them next. It was all so new. This is hard to believe.

The disciples had more than they could bear at this time. Peter desperately needed a break. He wanted to get back to what is “normal” in life. It was time for him to get back to the old way and do something that he knew best and enjoyed doing.  Peter makes his mind up and announced he is going fishing! The other disciples join him with enthusiasm. So off they go on a fishing trip, just like the old days. They knew that getting into their boat with their fishing supplies would be just what they needed. They were hoping to find release and hopefully bring back a good catch to sustain them. They were not salaried people and they need to earn their living by the minute to survive. Or, simply they were also tired of what was going on. They were professional fishermen so they had everything they needed for the job and they knew what they were doing. To their surprise they caught nothing. What a frustrating and disappointing night. They were tired, discouraged, and probably feeling like a bunch of failures. Wearily they were going back to shore, with nothing to show from their night’s work. Maybe they did not totally despair after all. Just to be at sea enjoying the quietness of the night, breathing the fresh air and getting away from the situation was perhaps good enough for them.

Then someone asked them if they have caught anything (verse 5). The disciples shouted back, “not a thing,” then he tells them to try again at “the right side of the boat” (verse 6). The disciples followed the stranger’s command with no question. To the disciples’ delight and amazement they found their net was overflowing. It was so filled and heavy that they almost could not gather the net into their boat. Right there, the beloved disciple, John, recognized the man. It was Jesus. John shouted that “it was the Lord” (verse 7)! Immediately Peter believed and his tiredness disappeared the moment he heard that it was the Lord. Peter jumps into the water to meet his Lord and probably to give him a hug to thank him. What a relief!

When everything had been brought to shore, the disciples counted the fish and there were 153 fish, and the fish were big (verse 11). In spite of the huge sizes and number of fish they caught, their net was in perfect condition. It was a confirmation that Jesus did it for them. Then the other manifestation that Jesus was real is that he invited the disciples to eat the breakfast he prepared it for them. The disciples were speechless! They knew it was Jesus and yet it seemed so strange to meet him at a very familiar place. They were filled with a sense of awe and wonder.

Why did Jesus choose to meet them in this way, in such a commonplace situation? There they were just a bunch of fishermen returning after a night’s fishing with nothing to show for their work. They were not expecting to see or meet Jesus at the sea, or maybe not even thinking about him. The disciples were too hopeless, too tired, and too frustrated, to think about anything but to rest. Yet Jesus was right there, present with them, and turning their failure to success, hopelessness to hope, tiredness to refreshment, hunger to fullness, and providing them with just what they needed most.

I expect somehow to meet with Jesus when I am in church, in the store, in the rain, or driving, walking, working in my garden, talking with family and friends, fellowshipping with others, as I meditate or read the Bible, listen to a child’s voice, visit a sick person in the hospital, or join in prayer with others. But sometimes when things are tough and not easy to handle with our own abilities and human understanding; that’s when Jesus comes to us. Sometimes when we least expect, think, or look for Jesus, that’s when he appears and speaks to us. God provides us with whatever we need; it might be a little bit of patience, comfort, insight or a clear head. I do not mean that Jesus waves a magic wand and all the troubles disappear, but Jesus does get right alongside with the disciples showing them what really matters: to recognize Jesus in their midst and help them to focus again. Jesus rescued the disciples and offered them sustenance of their body, mind and spirit. Our Lord offers us the same nourishments and hospitality that we need. Jesus’ appearance and presence with his followers was beyond belief and comprehension but it was a miracle and a mystery.

Remember at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the disciples were fishing and Jesus called them to follow him. They had to leave their occupation, old life, family and all that was familiar to them in life. Jesus promised the disciples that he would teach them a new occupation, to “fish for people.” Their new task was to tell people about God’s unconditional love and believe in Jesus.  The disciples accepted their call and did what Jesus told them to do: teaching, feeding, healing and helping the poor. We are entrusted with the same call and God promised that he will empower us to accomplish the task.

Fishing, as the disciples discovered that night, (and as all fishermen know), can be a very challenging and frustrating business. In spite of the effort, the skill and the equipment, sometimes there is nothing to show for all the hard work. Sometimes that experience can go on for a long time. It reminds me of the people that we served for mission in Pangan-an island in the Philippines last year whose primary income was fishing. The fishermen told us that sometimes after a long night of fishing they went home empty handed! If they have a catch for the day they would be able to buy rice, drinking water and other basic needs to eat for another day. But on the days with no catch to bring home, their families won’t be eating a regular meal. The people were happy and very grateful when we served them with a simple meal that had chicken in it and orange juice to drink. Since that mission trip our church has raised money to send to that island to feed them. Our church is sending Volunteers in Mission team to the Philippines in February of 2011 to be led by Brian and Marites Richardson and the group is going back to Pangan-an island. We’re accepting monetary donation toward that project.

We have heard a lot that “we are called to be faithful, and not necessarily successful.” But we know that failure does really hurt too! Perhaps it is only as we lift our eyes from the failure, from our own feelings, our own frustrations, that we will see someone in the distance making preparations for us, and then we will know that it is the Lord! It may be a long pull to the shore, but we will be there. Jesus will be preparing a delicious meal for us, to welcome us home; and it could be that we would find, to our surprise and joy, a great catch in our net. One thing for sure, we will have everything we need when we sit down with our Lord on the lakeshore.

If the risen Christ transformed the disciples’ sorrow into joy and helplessness into a new hope, this makes us hopeful that God would do the same for us. In everyday life when we try something and we don’t get any result, it is maybe because we are not seeking the Lord’s help. All abundance comes from God. The disciples did not recognize Jesus at first but they still extended their faith to try the other side of the boat. In life, if something is not working, you can try something else. Try a new twist and try “the right side of the boat” (verse 6). In church we try to put our resources to the place where it does the most good for the Lord’s work. Sometimes if you fish of the other side of the boat you can wind up with enough abundance to give your surplus to feed other families. God is calling us to fish in new places. God is calling us to step out into deeper waters of faith. This was the third encounter of the risen Christ. How will we be receptive to the risen Christ and what will we fish on a new side of a boat? Will we help feed God’s sheep in a new way?

Yesterday I attended “Pastor’s and Christian Business Leaders Breakfast” sponsored by the Latino Prayer Breakfast Club at the Nehemiah Urban Church Ministries in the South Side of Chicago with the Honorable Richard M. Daley, mayor of Chicago, as the guest speaker and other presenters. The mayor addressed the crowd with thanks and appreciation with what they have been doing already in their churches and communities. He also challenged them to rethink what they are currently doing and possibly create change for better and safer communities around Chicago. Mayor Daley said, “We have to feel the pain in our society. The children and youth are dying in guns, rape and drugs. Children and youth are great gifts and they do not deserve to die in any type of violence. It is our responsibility to care for that child born into our society. We have to educate the people that there is a better way; to promote safety not violence. Deacons and elders (and all of us) have to be the voice in the community. We have to teach people that it is important to respect a child and the elderly. We have to serve as mentors so that children can hear our stories and struggles and how we got here. National Day of Prayer should be every day especially in the summer. We have to “adopt a block” to be a safe place.” I think the mayor delivered a powerful message. I admire him for his commitment and dedication for safer neighborhoods and saving the children and the youth from dangers. I came out from that event fired up and charged to a greater task to save our children. Mayor Daley reminded us of our call that we are to care for the lambs, respect and love each other and to be concerned for one another. We have to protect our children and feed them with good values and right information. We have to go out in our neighborhoods and get to know the people. This month is child abuse prevention month. “Jesus loves the little children.” Let us take care of them. (Show the picture with Mayor Daley).

On April 3, I attended a Charity Gala in Rosemont, Illinois sponsored by the Central Asia Institute, a nonprofit organization as one of the guests of the Reverend Cheryl Magrini with Reverend Anne Hampson and Ginny Orlina from our church. It featured the co-founder, Mr. Greg Mortenson, author of the book, “Three Cups of Tea. One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nation…One School at a Time” a New York Times bestseller for more than three years and his newer one “Stones into Schools. Promoting Peace with Books, not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” Mr. Mortenson sixteen years ago had a mission to promote peace in the world through education of girls in Pakistan and now has extended to Afghanistan. Through Mr. Mortenson’s humanitarian effort, determination, passion and compassionate spirit, 130 schools have been built mostly for underprivileged girls. His dream is to promote peace and hope in the world through “books not bombs.” I was fortunate to attend his first Charity event last year and I have read his first book, “Three Cups of Tea.” His second book, “Stones into School” I have yet to read.

There were over 1,400 people who attended the event with more than 400 on the waiting list. Whenever I hear Mr. Mortenson speak about his call to help little girls to be educated it touches my heart. He’s a real hero to me. At the event there was Miss America Fererra, the star of “Ugly Betty” an ABC television show. Miss Fererra testified that one day she was reading the “Three Cups of Tea” and it touched her heart. She wrote Mr. Mortenson “to include her in his mission and that she would like to help in anyway.” There were also silent and live auctions. They brought in a professional auctioneer for five different oil paintings donated by professional artists who were present at the event. One of the paintings was sold for seventeen thousand dollars, another was fourteen thousand, and the lowest was sold for over two-thousand. The proceeds went to support the Central Asia Institute. The people were outbidding one another for a good cause. It was about helping girls who otherwise would not be able to go to school where the culture gives less priority for their education. Mr. Mortenson is a former mountaineer and lives with his wife and two children in Montana.

I am almost done reading a book called, “Mother Teresa. Come Be My Light. The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta” edited and with commentary by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk. (Show the book).The reading is about Mother Teresa’s personal life; faith journey, call to be a Sister of Loreto originating in Dublin, Ireland, and was sent to India, and her later call to be a Missionary of Charity. It talks about her indescribable dedication to serve God through the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. She served all kinds of people regardless of their religions. She met some challenges and struggles in life and in her ministry but her strong faith and trust in God sustained her. Her mission was to bring Jesus’ light to those who are in darkness. She cared for the sick, the dying and those otherwise forgotten in this world. She introduced people to Christ. She helped the people to experience the real meaning of Easter in their lives. She gave hope to the hopeless and life to the dying. She lived a resurrected life by experiencing the sufferings of the least fortunate.

This church continued to be blessed with wonderful and dedicated leaders serving in our Homeless Ministry with Rev. Claude King, Christian Education Ministry with Rev. Cheryl Magrini, Music and the Arts Ministry with our music director, Erik Nussbaum, and other ministry opportunities that we offer. The disciples listened and obeyed Jesus. It is through listening that we can hear God’s call. Loving God is more than “lip service.” It is serving and loving others with God’s help. Through God’s grace and blessing we can serve Christ in our small and big ways, and others will experience that eternal life here on earth. Easter people are called to bring hope in the midst of despair, peace in the midst of violence and life in the midst of death. We have a special task to do: to share the Good News about God’s love for all humanity. Jesus said to the disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Jesus says to us, “As the Father has sent me, (now) I send you.” Jesus said, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Amen.