Well, it’s the third Sunday of Easter. Two Sundays have gone by since all the excitement. So, what now?

For Peter and some of the other disciples it seems like has gone back to how it was before they ever met Jesus. They are back to fishing. Nothing seems to have changed, including a poor response from the fish.

And then, the miracle and the revelation. Jesus is still around and still providing for His followers. He is also still challenging them.

We don’t know why the number 153 is mentioned, but obviously it was a huge catch of fish since it tore the net. We do know that the disciples had to work, and work hard, to haul in this miraculous catch. Even miracles require something of those who are so blessed.

When they get to shore they find Jesus once again hosting them at a meal. And then the challenge begins, "Simon, Son of John, do you love me?" Jesus asks it three times. Some scholars see in this a symbolic re-enactment of the Maudy Thursday events: the Last Supper and Peter’s thrice spoken denial, but in reverse. In this case though, Peter is being rehabilitated. He is shown to be accepted back into discipleship. And in the end, Jesus says, "Follow Me."

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It’s the third Sunday of Easter. Two weeks have gone by since all the excitement of Easter. So what now?

Like the disciples in our lesson, we have all begun to drift back into the way things have always been. The company has returned home. The Easter lilies are gone. The smells of Easter breakfast downstairs have cleared. The crowds who worshiped that day are gone and we the faithful few are tempted to think that nothing has changed, including the poor response of the fish...ur, Easter worshipers.

Whether we know it (and show it) or not, because everything change that day of the resurrection, our lives are changed as well. Jesus reveals Himself as risen Lord each day. He stands at the water’s edge of our lives trying to direct our actions. First we must be willing to turn off those things that distract us or block our hearing - whether it is the constant noise of entertainment media, the cacophony of social demands, past experience that we think determines future results or our own willfulness.

Next, we must learn to discern whether or not it is Jesus giving us direction. It’s can be hard to recognize him when our boat (our daily life) is a bit distant from where He is. There are also unfortunately all too many impersonators trying to get us to follow the wrong currents. Therefore, learning to really listen to Jesus’ word is really vital.

And finally, we must be prepared to obey Him even if we are tired or think that what He wants us to do makes no sense. If we do this we will see miracles beyond our imaginings. But, we like the disciples must accept the fact that even miracles require something from us.

If we want to get the most out of our Easter experience, we need to jump into the water.

Peter was so excited at seeing Jesus he jumped in and swam ashore ahead of the boat.

We need to jump into the water too - the waters of our baptisms. In baptism we had our sin forgiven, we received the Holy Spirit and we were called into discipleship. When we jump into the waters of baptism we acknowledge with gratitude the grace of forgiveness, we let the Spirit energize us and give us the courage to move ahead and we respond to Jesus call to discipleship.

We don’t need to worry that we won’t be able to survive our plunge into the waters of baptism either, because Jesus is still with us. He is still feeding us. He is still hosting a meal that assures His presence not only with, but also in us.

And as, like Peter, we kneel dripping at Jesus feet, we hear Him say to us, (supply your name and parent’s name) "Elsa, daughter of the Clarks, Do you love me?"

Do you love me? Do you love me enough to worship me regularly? Do you love me enough to keep listening to what I want to teach you? Do you love me enough to eat the meal I offer you? Do you love me enough to serve me by tending my other sheep? Do you love me enough to die for me - not suffer death on a cross like I did for you, but suffer the death of your self-will, self-centeredness, selfishness. Do you love me? Amen