10 April 2016 - the sake of the name

[ Today's Readings ]

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”

LORD, we distract ourselves with the ordinary things of daily life. But you enter into these circumstances and reveal yourself. You help us as we try to meet our daily needs.

So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

Even simple things like breakfast become an opportunity to draw close to you.

Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.

You do this in the midst of our daily struggles. We need to know who you are so we can help others to know you. We need to be convinced so that when things get hard we stand firm.

He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Peter is able to get this, LORD. You love him where he is. You help him to move past his betrayal of you. He becomes an apostle who rejoices that he is found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

But Peter and the apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.

This is why the scene of worship in heaven is so overwhelming. It is comprised of voices like those of Peter and the apostles. These are voices which the world cannot silence.

They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.”

Your resurrection is what makes this possible. It is the definitive act by which you change our mourning to dancing. You draw us clear so that our enemies don't rejoice over us. Help us to encounter you in ordinary places. Guide us with your love so that we can make a break with our sinful past lives. Give us your Spirit so that we can love you without reserve. Make our own voices fit to join the heavenly chorus of your praise.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and in the sea,
everything in the universe, cry out:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”