Sharing a meal with mates

4 May 2025 3rd Sunday Easter, Year C

John 21:1-19

This week’s gospel presents a scene so familiar that we can almost picture it happening on an Aussie beach. After all, what’s more Australian than a feed of fish and chips by the water after a long day?

 

Up until this point in John’s Gospel, we’ve seen the apostles wrestle with their faith, their doubts, and their relationship with Jesus. And now, in this final chapter, we find them back where they started—on the water, fishing. It’s a moment of comfort and familiarity after the chaos of the crucifixion and the uncertainty of the resurrection. For all the theological significance of Jesus’ victory over death, this chapter reminds us that faith is lived out in the ordinary, in the everyday moments of life.

 

It’s easy to imagine these blokes—seasoned fisherfolk—working through the night, casting their nets, waiting, hauling them in, and finding nothing. We know that feeling of frustration, whether it’s a fruitless fishing trip or a tough day at work. Then, as dawn breaks, a figure on the shore calls out, “Try the other side.” It’s such a classic Aussie moment—someone watching from the beach, offering a bit of unsolicited advice! But in this case, the suggestion works. The nets fill to breaking point, and suddenly, they recognise him: it’s Jesus.

 

Peter, ever the impulsive one, throws himself into the water, desperate to get to Jesus. The others, more practical, bring in the boat. Jesus is on the beach, cooking breakfast.

 

There’s something so ordinary, yet so intimate about it. Jesus, the risen Son of God, isn’t making grand speeches or manifesting dazzling displays of power. He’s just cooking fish on the coals and inviting his mates to share a meal. It’s reminiscent of so many beachside barbecues, a reminder that God meets us not only in the miraculous but also in the simple, shared moments of life.

 

The meal isn’t just about food; it’s about reconciliation. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, is now given the chance to affirm his love three times. “Do you love me?” Jesus asks. It’s a tough question, but one filled with grace. Each time Peter answers, Jesus commissions him: “Feed my sheep.” It’s a reminder that faith isn’t just personal—it’s lived out in service to others.

 

For Australians today, this passage speaks deeply to our sense of mateship, shared meals, and life by the water. We know what it’s like to gather with friends after a long day, to sit by the shore, to share food, and to talk about the things that matter.

 

John 21 reminds us that Jesus is there in those moments too—not distant, not unreachable, but present in our everyday lives, calling us to follow him. Just like the apostles, we are invited to bring what we have, to sit with him, and to share in his work of love and reconciliation –and often in the very ordinary situations of life, in the office, in the home, or on the beach.

 

Ian J Elmer

© Majellan Media 2025

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