Here’s
a reflection on John 21: 1-19, where the resurrected Jesus appears to the
disciples on the beach and cooks them breakfast. It was written by Loretta F. Ross.
Children,
have you any fish?
Just after daybreak,Jesus stood on the beach;
but the disciples did not know that it was
Jesus.
Jesus said to them, ”Children, you have
no fish, have you?” John
21:5
After breakfast -
did
they push back the plates
brush away the crumbs
and leaning on their elbows
drain the last of the coffee?
brush away the crumbs
and leaning on their elbows
drain the last of the coffee?
when
they had finished breaking
the fast
that knot that moored them
to the earth -
the fast
that knot that moored them
to the earth -
did
they hear the crack
as lack was smashed
and denial strewn in shards
all round their dawn drenched faces
while Fullness rose before them,
a grinning fry-cook,
presiding at the flame?
as lack was smashed
and denial strewn in shards
all round their dawn drenched faces
while Fullness rose before them,
a grinning fry-cook,
presiding at the flame?
So
when they had completed that shattering
that breaking of self-imposed want
and self itself
and tasted, savored, chewed, digested
that Fish
who had eluded their nets all night
that breaking of self-imposed want
and self itself
and tasted, savored, chewed, digested
that Fish
who had eluded their nets all night
then
Feast asked:
Do
you love me?
Peter takes the bait
Yes,
Lord.
Do fish swim? Is the sea wet?
Do fish swim? Is the sea wet?
Feed
my lambs.
A
second time Feast casts the net:
Do
you love me?
Yes,
Lord. You know.
Peter turns, twisting in the webbing.
Peter turns, twisting in the webbing.
Tend
my sheep.
And then the charm:
Do
you love me?
Flailing, inextricably caught
flesh straining, tormented -
flesh straining, tormented -
I am
putty in your hands. You know me.
Why press me up against the edges of this love
to lie gasping, gills seared by sanctity
on the far shore of heaven?
You who have lured me here,
you know, you know.
Why press me up against the edges of this love
to lie gasping, gills seared by sanctity
on the far shore of heaven?
You who have lured me here,
you know, you know.
Then
quick
the deft Cleaver
a swift slash of blade
and he is flayed open
on his soft underside
from gullet to dorsal fin.
the deft Cleaver
a swift slash of blade
and he is flayed open
on his soft underside
from gullet to dorsal fin.
And
it comes:
Feed
my sheep.
Again.
O Peter, Peter
once you swam where you would
through silent green darkness
in and out of rotting keels among the stems
lying in wait for your supper
to enter your heart’s snare.
Now you are trawled
where you do not wish to go
where you will be filleted
in the bright morning sun
for someone else’s breakfast.
O Peter, Peter there may still be time
run
run!
once you swam where you would
through silent green darkness
in and out of rotting keels among the stems
lying in wait for your supper
to enter your heart’s snare.
Now you are trawled
where you do not wish to go
where you will be filleted
in the bright morning sun
for someone else’s breakfast.
O Peter, Peter there may still be time
run
run!
In
some nook
you will lean across a table
called remember
and another’s hunger will tear out your entrails
and you will wash down your cheerios
with each other’s tears.
you will lean across a table
called remember
and another’s hunger will tear out your entrails
and you will wash down your cheerios
with each other’s tears.
The line
is forming, Peter.
Hear their cries.
See them coming,
heaving themselves out of the waters
like great sad whales
beached on this foreign strand.
Hear their cries.
See them coming,
heaving themselves out of the waters
like great sad whales
beached on this foreign strand.
Tend
them, Peter. They are mine.
Be gentle with their wounds
the raw red
festering places
seeming so incurable.
Teach them to clean
to wrap
to bind up the hurt
with these stained winding cloths.
Be gentle with their wounds
the raw red
festering places
seeming so incurable.
Teach them to clean
to wrap
to bind up the hurt
with these stained winding cloths.
Give them a poultice
for drawing out the poison,
a potion for a contrite heart.
for drawing out the poison,
a potion for a contrite heart.
Wipe
their tears.
Sing their lament.
Carry their ache in your heart
long after they leave
and wake to it when you rise.
Sing their lament.
Carry their ache in your heart
long after they leave
and wake to it when you rise.
You
will not wish to meet such suffering.
You will look for ways to turn its tide
to swim back to your ancient watery grave
where life eased slowly into you once removed
through gossamer wings you wore waving on each side.
You will look for ways to turn its tide
to swim back to your ancient watery grave
where life eased slowly into you once removed
through gossamer wings you wore waving on each side.
Now
your lungs screech
as the air
the air
slams into you
immediate
as this picnic breakfast, Pete.
as the air
the air
slams into you
immediate
as this picnic breakfast, Pete.
You
have seen me
known me
loved me
now you will be food for them to eat.
known me
loved me
now you will be food for them to eat.
~
written by Loretta F. Ross, on The
Praying Life blog.
