In today’s meditation, we return to the Sea of Galilee and find seven of the Disciples there fishing and trying to make sense of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Teacher has already appeared to them three times. Last week, you recall, (See John 21: 2-14) that Jesus met Peter, James and John, Thomas, Nathanael and two others of his disciples on the lake shore. He had a breakfast of roasted fish and bread for them, which he broke and shared.

Can you imagine the emotions (and questions) these men must have experienced? I think the song we’ll sing in today’s meditation must capture part of what they were feeling:

There is a longing in our hearts for you, O Lord, to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love we only find in you, Our God.

We read further into John’s Gospel this week (John 21:15-17) and find Jesus addressing himself directly to Simon Peter. Some scholars call this scene, the series of “Do you love me” questions Jesus that parraellel Peter’s denial of Jesus, the “Restoration of Peter.”