Following in New Ways (Third Sunday of Easter)

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Sometimes, as we read the Easter stories, we’re tempted to think that as soon as the disciples realized Jesus really was alive again, they all became happy and joyful, and effortlessly pivoted to a new way of living and proclaiming the Gospel to far off places.

But as today’s Gospel ready points out, that really wasn’t the case.  After Jesus’ Resurrection, the disciples were in a time of transition.  They weren’t really sure what to do, where to go or what was coming next.  And so, they headed home.  And they did what they had done before – they went fishing.

And during times of transition and confusion, it’s often comforting to go back to what you know.  Todd Bolsinger, the author of a recent book titled, “Canoeing the Mountains” points out that “when we get to moments of deep disorientation, we often try to reorient around old ways of doing things.  We go back to what we know how to do.”

And that’s what Peter and the disciples did.  They went fishing.  And it was in the context of fishing that the Risen Jesus met them for the third time since his Resurrection.  And in one sense, he told Peter to go back to doing what he had also done before: “Follow me.”  But now the following was going to have to be different. 

And it would be great if Jesus told Peter exactly how this “following” would be different.  Surely, it couldn’t be the same, because the disciples could no longer follow Jesus around as they did before.  The disciples were now being called to have agency and responsibility for their work, instead of simply being directed to do things by Jesus.  And the disciples were now in for a journey that wasn’t simply going to be for a couple of years – they were in it for the long haul – for the rest of their lives.

So how was this “following” going to be different?  And what was this transition to the new way of following going to look like?  Jesus doesn’t give a nice blueprint, or at least if he did, John’s Gospel doesn’t report it.

Yet it does seem from the story that this transition to following in a new way would mean:

• Realizing that Jesus was with them, even when they couldn’t see him in the same was as before – John’s Gospel doesn’t include any story of an “ascension”.  Instead, you’re left with the impression that the Risen Jesus is always around – it’s just that, from time to time, “he shows himself” as a reminder…

• Doing some of the same things, but in different ways, or with a different emphasis – one of the things about most transitions is that they aren’t like a light switch, either on or off.  Instead, things gradually move from one thing to the next.  Even fishing – I mean, most of the disciples were fishermen and still needed to make a living (Paul also had to figure out how to be a missionary and still be a tent-maker!); but transitions take time, and therefore, required patience and experimentation to see what will work for the future.  And maybe that’s why Jesus didn’t give them a hard and fast blueprint…

• Resisting the notion that, eventually, things would go back to the way they were – this ominous line about “indicating the kind of death” that Peter would die is John’s reminder that life really would be different in some very substantial ways.  And sometimes, the biggest hindrance to following in a new time and in new way is the even subconscious desire to get back to the way things were…

This Sunday marks the one year anniversary of being back in live worship after things shut down for Covid!  And in this past year, we’ve continued to adapt, and to live into a lot of changes.

In some ways, things feel like they were.  Many of us are back live in church.  We don’t have to wear masks anymore.  And we’re again planning big events like Coffeehouse and Yard Sale.

And yet, things are different than they were, not just for us but for the world around us.  And like Peter and those first disciples, the Risen Jesus is still calling us to follow him.  But it’s clear a year into being “back” that the way we follow Jesus isn’t going to be just like it was.

And it’s not entirely clear how things will look next year or the year after.  Planning and visioning is still kinda sketchy!  But as today’s Gospel reading points out, that’s always been the way transitions in following are.  And maybe the best advice our Gospel reading gives us this morning is the same message those first disciples needed.

That is, as we learn to follow in new ways, even when it’s not clear exactly how that will look, it will certainly mean:

• Trusting that Jesus is still calling us to follow, and still leading us, even if it looks and feels differently than it used to … the very fact that things we were used to just a few years ago were very different from the way things were when many of us were kids should give us confidence that God can show us new ways of following that are different from what we might imagine now…

• Being willing not only to drop old things and add new things, but to adapt what we’ve done before in different ways… One of the things I’ve been reflecting on lately is Jesus’ words about pulling out of your treasure that which is old and that which is new – and how that’s really how “transitioning” works…

• Really being self-aware of how our deep desire to get back to “normal” (that is, to the way things were) can be the biggest hindrance to follow in new ways… at least, I know that’s how it works for me, and perhaps the best way to do that is to always be open to the unexpected times and places in which we feel Jesus is revealing himself to us…

“Follow me”.  Those are Jesus’ final words to his disciples in the Gospel of John.  And they’re still the best final words for us, too.  But the way we’re called to follow may be different from the ways Jesus calls others to follow.  And it will clearly be different from the ways we ourselves were called to follow just a couple of year ago.

So for us too, Jesus reminds us to rely on his presence, and to be open for the times and places that Jesus reveals himself in our lives.  Jesus calls us to patience in transition and to constant willingness to adapt.  And Jesus calls us to look for what God is preparing for us in the future, instead of simply trying to find a way back the ways that were.

Amen.