John 21:1-14 Staying Close

Friday of Easter Octave
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Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias...

The atheistic dictator in charge of an atheistic society is once again threatening the United States with nuclear war. 

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is preparing his nation for all out war against the USA; that is, us.  This morning, he sent a message to the Russian ambassador (to North Korea) to take his staff and leave the country.  Although Kim Jong Un may be considered a nut by many; we, the United States, must take his threats seriously.  And so, in the past few days, we have sent war ships, missile defense systems and stealth bombers and fighters into that region to ensure our security.  These deployments cost millions of dollars.  It’s clear we are not taking this mad-man’s threats lightly.

The bad news makes headlines.  The Good News seems to make it only in the Scriptures.  Why is that?  Can’t we see what this is doing to us and to others?  It's gradually turning bad news into no news and Good News into “Hidden News.”

This morning, while I was reflecting on today’s Gospel passage, I was struck by the intimacy of the Lord with His disciples.  He is with them on the beach.  He is preparing a fire for them.  He is cooking a meal for them.  He is calling them over to Him to share a meal with Him. 

How more personal can you get!

Is this not the secret to evangelization:  the closer we get to Him, the more we fall in love with Him?

From a distance, everyone appears small; and therefore, insignificant.  From a distance, death appears inconsequential, and suffering and pain as inevitable.  From a distance, it is easier to rant and rave over irrelevant things. 

Dictators tend to be lonely people.  For their own protection, they are routinely isolated from their people, the “general public.”  To enhance their image, they are often seen from afar and in gigantic form.  To make it easier for them to destroy their enemies, they often dehumanize their enemies and avoid all forms of communication with them.

Dictators tend to be conscious-free individuals.  They will do whatever it takes to save their power, even sacrifice all to save themselves.  They will destroy the planet before they allow themselves to be destroyed.

Over the centuries, the Church could have mobilized her resources and followers to build up an incredible army and a navy of their own.  Over the centuries, the Church had more than enough men and influence to overthrow monarchs and rulers and put their own “princes” in power.  Over the centuries, the Church had the power to destroy other kingdoms and faith temples.  In two thousand years the Church could have done what the Nazis did within the span of ten years:  destroy nearly every single synagogue in Europe and nearly wipe out the entire Jewish population, especially in Germany.  They chose not to. 

So why are we not like any other world power or leader?  Because of the example of Jesus Christ who said, It is not to be so with you.  If you wish to be great, then you must make yourselves small.  If you wish to be the Master of others, then you must be their servant. 

Christ did not die in battle only to rise with a sword in his hand.  On the contrary, He died on a Cross forgiving those who put Him there, and He expected His followers to do the same thing.  Jesus did not ask his own to risk their lives to save His.  Instead, He expected them to lay down their lives and love one another; that is, to serve others, even while basking in all His glory.     

I call you children.  Recently, the Associated Press (AP) decided to no longer use the terms "illegal immigrants" or "illegal aliens."  That was a good choice, since we have a tendency to dehumanize people.  It's so much easier to call someone a "Communist" rather than "a person with communist tendencies."  It's easier to label someone a "homosexual" rather than "a person with homosexual tendencies."  Hopefully, their ban will be applied across the board.  I doubt it though.  

For the Lord, He calls everyone His children, especially those who abandoned Him, betrayed Him and rejected Him.  As well, the Church continues to serve those who scorn her, mock her and reject her.        

Resolution:  I will stay to close to Christ and share Him with others.  I will follow Him by helping others.