A Life-Changing Meal, The Reverend David R. Williams, Easter III--Year B--April 30, 2006

“The disciples gave Jesus a piece of broiled fish, and Jesus took the fish and ate in their presence.” We hear these words in this morning’s Gospel. 
 
The Collect, too, speaks of food and meal time.  “O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread…” 
 
Obviously, the disciples relate many stories about Jesus eating, and not just bread. Soon after his reappearance Jesus joins his followers in a meal of fish. 
 
The third Sunday of Easter, we hear more stories of the early days of Jesus’ Resurrection.  In the first accounts, Easter Day and the first Sunday after Easter, we hear about the empty tomb and the presence of angels in and around the tomb.  Then we hear of the first accounts of Jesus’ Resurrection appearance – how the women are frightened at first.  How they do not recognize him.  How they all are stunned, trembling in fear. 
 
Now the miraculous story includes food, a meal, sustenance-- bread, wine and fish. 
 
In the lesson from Acts, we see two communities evolving – one group knows about Jesus’ resurrection and the other, larger group has a faith in this man called Jesus, yet is not fully informed of his Glory. 
 
“YOU ISRAELITES!” Peter blasts the curious crowd. The “believing, yet unsure” people want to know more.  They are astounded at the discretionary healing performed by Peter. They crowd around a central place in the town.  Peter spontaneously and emotionally steps in front of the crowd.  “YOU ISRAELITES, why do you wonder at this healing, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made this crippled man walk?”
 
Peter reprimands the people, his own brothers and sisters in faith, for “rejecting” Jesus, for asking a murderer to be freed, for killing the Author of Life.  Separating from his own Jewish family, Peter accuses his own people of participating in Jesus’ execution. 
 
A 20th Century theologian, Soren Kierkegaard once said about the scripture story: “The matter is quite simple.  The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly.  Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly.  My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined.  How would I ever get on in the world?”
 
“You rejected the Holy and Righteous One,” Peter says. 
 
We are not unlike the people gathered in front of Peter.  We face accusation, criticism for our inability to know the Resurrected Lord. 
 
Last week we talked about the distinction between believing and knowing.  The children “got it” when I talked to them in the sermon. Do we get it?  Believing with heart and soul is what eventually happens within Peter and the disciples. Therein lies our challenge.  Not just to believe – but to believe with whole heart and soul, to know that I must “get on’ in the world and risk all that has been comfortable and familiar.
 
Every time we choose to hate, to alienate ourselves, each time we refuse to forgive another human being, we reject the Spirit, the person, the image of Jesus.  When we take for granted our most precious gifts--family members, church friends, food on our tables, the air, the water, the rains, the sunshine, the beauty of this earth, our island home, we choose less than God’s precious desire for us. We participate in “killing” the Author of Life. 
 
Peter’s speaks so passionately after berating his fellow Jews. For a moment, he becomes pastoral and warm.  “And now friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.” [We also know Peter himself denied and turned his back on Jesus at Jesus’ hour of death.] “Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,” Peter advises.
 
Faith brings the possibility of life and health. Faith in a living, resurrected Author of Life gives us the chance of renewal.
 
The disciples were not sure when Jesus first joined them in their meeting place.  Luke’s account says, “They were startled and terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost.” We might imagine the faith of the disciples in that moment as rather confused, just as we feel when thousands of years later we hear the story retold.
 
What are they talking about?  What is really going on?
 
“While in their joy the disciples were disbelieving and still wondering, Jesus says to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
 
We have to stop and visualize this moment bringing down to earth in real time the Hallelujah chorus…the incredible light and brightness in the room…the beating of hearts…the world turned upside-down and, in Kierkegaard’s words, even ruined?!
 
Jesus asks for something to eat! Broiled fish is on the menu.  Jesus eats the fish. How real can this Jesus be?
 
If we should ever take lightly, or take for granted, the sacramental meal and the gift we have as we gather in this place, we shall miss out on the wondrous Easter message.  In the words of another theologian, “To approach the Eucharistic altar is to approach Christ.  To stretch out hands is to reach toward the Christ. To take the bread is to encounter Jesus.  To drink the wine is to receive his most profound presence.  Eucharist does not give us more knowledge in the sense of information about Jesus Christ, rather it enables us to know him… to believe with heart and soul.”
 
Celebrating Easter through a simple meal means that Jesus could show up, that resurrection could happen at any table, at every table. The Easter feast continues as one meal leads to another, and tables become larger and larger, and closer and closer together. 
 
To live with this faith, as the scripture story tells it, could transform our lives and create a new radiance in the entire church, community and world.
 
If we are as the disciples, terrified and unsure, Jesus asks us to join in the meal.  May we partake, and may we risk knowledge and transformation through a resurrected Lord.
 
Amen.