Friday in Easter Week: Pray and Work: A Benedictine Perspective of Easter

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 4: 1-12 (NRSV)

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is

`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

it has become the cornerstone.'

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Psalm 116: 1-8 (BCP, p. 759)


John 21:1-14 (NRSV)

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

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?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Blog Reflection

We have two images of Peter today.  In Acts he is the one who speaks on behalf of the other Apostles before the very council that had Pontius Pilate crucify Jesus.  In John we have Peter catching fish with the others, and Jesus telling them to put their nets over the side where they would catch fish.  Peter gets up, gets dressed, jumps in the sea towards the Risen Jesus.   Jesus sits down and has breakfast with them.

I think all of us can identify with both sides of Peter in our Lectionary today.  There are moments when we are prepared to boldly and confidently proclaim the Risen Christ before an unbelieving Church and society.   We also experience those times when we need to run to Jesus so that we can eat with him, and listen to what God's Word has to teach us.

The Paschal Mystery which we celebrated a week ago, and consequently every time we gather for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, reveals the power of the Crucified and Risen Christ whenever we take time to proclaim our Faith, or retreat to renew it.  

The Rule of St. Benedict stresses the idea of preferring nothing to the Opus Dei (Work of God).   Whether it is praying the Daily Office, participating in the Eucharist, in our daily work and lives spent in relationship to others, or personal prayer, we are to be consciously aware of God's presence at all times, and in all places.   This idea is how what we pray and read, becomes the way we live.  Our readings on this Friday in Easter Week speak to just that concept.  If we are going to be effective in living and sharing the Good News of the resurrection, we must spend some kind of time in prayer and personal reflection.  To the extent we spend time with the Risen Christ in prayer and contemplation, we will be able to be witnesses to the power of God in our daily lives.

As Christians who care about the marginalized in the Church and society, including LGBT people and many more that we could name, we need what can be gained through prayer spent with the Risen Christ so that our work can be rewarding and effective.   This Easter Week is such a powerful time.  It is one we should not miss, just because we are worn out by Holy Week.  Christ experienced the Cross and rose again from the dead so that all people, including those rejected by the Church and society could know the power of God for the hope of their salvation.  Salvation that takes place in this time, as we prepare for the eternal life yet to come.


Prayers

Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away
the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always
serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Friday in Easter Week, Book of Common Prayer, p. 224).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).