Excerpt from John 21:1-25

"Do you love me more than these?"

Reflection by Ron Buford

The disciples' high hopes inspired them to drop their fishing nets and follow an odd new teacher named Jesus, who would show them a world beyond their wildest dreams. Their hopes had been dashed. Jesus had been executed. "Now what? They asked, "After Jesus, who could we love?"

Here, it is as though Peter says, "Hell, I'm going back to my old love…fishing." The others join him. Fishing all night, they catch nothing…until the resurrected Jesus mysteriously appears. And then the old magic is back. They are inundated with fish. They have breakfast with Jesus - like old times.

Jesus then teaches them one more lesson. He asks Peter, "Do you love me more than you love these fish? Don't you remember? I called you away from the safety of fishing for fish to fishing for God's dangerous dreams and dreamers on the earth. Though you feel like quitting, don't quit. Though you will surely suffer for it, don't quit. Others will get rich financially and you won't, but don't quit. Keep loving through the mystery of uncertainty to experience a sustaining abundance of Divine joy...just don't quit.

Prayer

Gracious God, I want to be the person you have called me to be for today. Please help my love for you overcome doubt, discouragement, and fear. I love you more than these. Amen.

About the Author Ron Buford is Interim Minister for Discipleship at Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts. The former coordinator of the UCC's God is still speaking campaign, Ron consults with UCC conferences and churches across the nation and appears in the DVD-based progressive theology series, Living the Questions 2.0.

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