Prayers of the People: Cast to the Other Side ~ 3rd Sunday of Easter '22 Yr C

For Sunday, May 1, 2022, Readings: Acts 9:1-6, Psalm 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19

     Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?...Who are you, Lord?...I am Jesus…get up and enter the city, and you will be told what to do. [Acts 9:4b-6]

    Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning…Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; O Lord, be my helper. [Psalm 30:6, 11]

   Then 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 blessings and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [Revelation 5:13]

    ...Jesus stood on the beach [and] said to them, "Children you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat"...and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish...When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread...Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast..." When they had finished breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John...do you love me...Feed my sheep." [John 21:4a-5a, 6b, 9, 12a, 15a, 17c]

      Distrust and suspicion seem to be the norm of the fraught times of today, and so it was with persecuted Christians about Saul as the most ferocious pursuer of those who belonged to the Way. Suddenly Jesus blinds Saul and orders him into the city to wait for instructions. Who is more confounded ~ Saul or those he meets in the city? Who would most confound you today if you encountered a danger to yourself and others who was suddenly desperate for your help?  

      In the passage from John’s Gospel, Jesus is cooking breakfast by the sea; another unexpected post-Resurrection appearance. Aiding them in their fishing, he tells the disciples to throw their nets to the other side and when they do they struggle in to shore with nets so full they can hardly manage ~ and the nets never break! After dressing to impress, Peter swims ashore to greet the Lord, and the real agenda for this moment commences directly after the fresh fish were grilled and devoured. Peter was hurt by the continuing questions of Jesus as to whether Peter loved him. It seems that Peter has forgotten his recent triad of denials! Yes, of course, says Peter and Jesus tells him to “feed my lambs.” After the second round Jesus tells Peter to “tend my sheep.” And the third time, Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.” He then says Follow me.

     Although not in our readings for this Sunday, I find it useful to remember that it is in Matthew 4:18-19, when Jesus first calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to follow him and he will teach them to be fishers of people. Now they and we are called again to follow and to tend and feed the youngest to the oldest ~ the cantankerous and the pliant, the fearful and the docile, those who think as I do and especially those who do not ~ as they all belong to our Most Worthy Lamb, our Lord Christ. Everyone we meet are his instruments, however we find them, loving them whatever they profess to believe in religion and otherwise. Let us polish up our Lenten promises and good intentions, and overcome our reluctance to give of ourselves in new and different ways. Let’s cast our nets on the other side of Christ’s boat, the one we usually avoid, to go fishing in God’s pastures wherever they are, simply caring for all the Flock, as we continue following the call of Christ our Lord.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ Risen Christ, Lord of the Way, turn the tide and pull us in from drifting on the shallow sea of earthly wants, setting our sails to be fed, loved, and energized to follow You.
 
                                                       Jesus, Son of God
           RESPONSE:                Our help and our direction
 
~ Risen Christ, Lord of the Way, may those who navigate earthly governments blinded by the pursuit of unhampered power and personal glory, suddenly discover an inner vision of peace, justice, and mercy for Your people and Your Earth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       Jesus, Son of God
                                                       Our help and our direction
 
~ Risen Christ, Lord of the Way, grant hope and healing for all in physical or emotional pain, and lift up the hearts of all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions
 
                                                       Jesus, Son of God
                                                       Our help and our direction
 
~ Risen Christ, Lord of the Way, release the grief of those who weep in the night to let the morning reveal the joy of our beloved, who now live again in the glory of Your eternal kingdom. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       Jesus, Son of God
                                                       Our help and our direction
 
~ Risen Christ, Lord of the Way, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions
 
                                                       Jesus, Son of God
                                                       Our help and our direction
             
~ Risen Christ, Lord of the Way, nourish the spirits of all who are chosen to guide us on our journey to You, that as they feed our souls through Your Word and Sacraments, we, in turn, will be shepherds to Your flock, feeding them with Your love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       Jesus, Son of God
                                                       Our help and our direction             
 
The Celebrant adds: Christ Jesus, Master of the Earth and Sea, in casting Your net to the other side, You brought Saul aboard to open his eyes to a new Way. Grant us new sight, leaving all judgment to You, to be Your love-in-action for all sides of Your boat. We ask through the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Almighty, who together with You reign as One God, now and forever.  Amen.

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