The disciples make a big splash and breakfast with the risen Jesus in the gospel. Wading in the water (remembering our baptism) and eating with Jesus (celebrating the holy communion) is our weekly encounter with the risen Christ. Jesus asks us, with Peter, again and again: Do you love me? And Jesus invites us, again and again, to follow him, bringing the Easter life to others.
Readings and Psalm
- Acts 9:1-6 [7-20]
Paul’s conversion, baptism, and preaching - Psalm 30
You have turned my wailing into dancing. (Ps. 30:11) - Revelation 5:11-14
The song of the living creatures to the Lamb - John 21:1-19
Jesus appears to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias
First Reading: Acts 9:1-6 [7-20]
Each of us has
a story of meeting God’s grace. Saul (later called Paul) was an ardent
persecutor of all who followed the Way of Christ. This reading recounts
the story of his transformation, beginning with an encounter with Jesus
Christ on the way to Damascus.1Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and
asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he
found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
[7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul
got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see
nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there
was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a
vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The
Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at
the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment
he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15But
the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen
to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of
Israel; 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17So
Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here,
has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the
Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”]
Psalm: Psalm 30
You have turned my wailing into dancing. (Ps. 30:11)1I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lift- | ed me up
and have not let my enemies triumph | over me.
2O Lord my God, I cried | out to you,
and you restored | me to health.
3You brought me up, O Lord, | from the dead;
you restored my life as I was going down | to the grave.
4Sing praise to the Lord, | all you faithful;
give thanks in ho- | ly remembrance.
5God’s wrath is short; God’s favor | lasts a lifetime.
Weeping spends the night, but joy comes | in the morning.
6While I felt se- | cure, I said,
“I shall never | be disturbed.
7You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong | as the mountains.”
Then you hid your face, and I was | filled with fear.
8I cried to | you, O Lord;
I pleaded with | my Lord, saying,
9“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down | to the pit?
Will the dust praise you or de- | clare your faithfulness?
10Hear, O Lord, and have mer- | cy upon me;
O Lord, | be my helper.”
11You have turned my wailing | into dancing;
you have put off my sackcloth and clothed | me with joy.
12Therefore my heart sings to you | without ceasing;
O Lord my God, I will give you | thanks forever.
Second Reading: Revelation 5:11-14
The vision of
John recorded in Revelation offers a glimpse of cosmic worship on the
Lord’s Day. At its center is “the Lamb who was slain.”11Then
I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne
and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of
myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever!”
14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Gospel: John 21:1-19
The risen
Christ appears again to his disciples by the sea where they were first
called. After echoes of the fishing and feeding miracles, he gives a
final reminder of the cost of a disciple’s love and obedience.1After [he appeared to his followers in Jerusalem,] Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered
there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of
Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon
Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go
with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they
caught nothing.
4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He
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. 7That
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 sea. 8But
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.
9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11So
Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a
hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was
not torn. 12Jesus
said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared
to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15When they
had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John,
do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A
second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He
said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him,
“Tend my sheep.” 17He
said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter
felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And
he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very
truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own
belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will
stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you
and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”