Leading With Grace

29/4/2022

A Reflection on the Gospel for May 1st, 2022:
Third Sunday of Easter

John
21.1-19

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 ninety metres 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.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.)

After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus is asking you … will you follow Him?

I have so much empathy for Peter. I am like him in so many ways but also so different from him. We are alike in that I can be passionate, headstrong and unsure of myself, and I have many feelings of unworthiness. However, it can be easy to look at him and to think he is a much better leader than I am.

This reflection led me to ponder this concept of leadership. What does it really mean to be a leader, and how is Jesus calling us to act it out in our lives today?

I don’t think the dynamics of leadership have to be demonstrated by the boldness we’re used to hearing. As disciples, we can show leadership in smaller ways, or ways that are unconventional to traditional leadership thinking.

The feminine qualities of leadership are often underacknowledged. Forming slow relationships with people so that they feel loved and cared for, and embracing opportunities to challenge each other without fear of judgment are powerful ways to lead.

When Jesus calls His disciples to lead others, He is asking them to share the message of who He is and that He has been sent to be their saviour. In my own life, I’ve come to realize that the surest way to follow His call and acquaint people with Jesus is to avoid forcing it. Instead, I am called to cradle the message that Jesus entrusted to His disciples and attend to it with grace. Handling the call with grace requires an open heart — and, sometimes, opening our hearts is the bravest act of all.

God bless you in this joyous season of Easter!!

Theresa James

2 Comments

Lindsay

30/4/2022 07:46:36 am

Theresa, I appreciate this take on leadership so much!“Cradle the message”…and trust grace. So beautiful. This subtlety is transformative; when we so often think that to be a leader is to be out front and more in the spotlight. Thank you so much for this tremendously encouraging perspective!

Noreen

30/4/2022 10:08:05 am

That’s what struck me too, Lindsay. Theresa, your phrase ‘cradle the message’ is so evocative. It captures this call to upside down leadership. Not to charge forward and take, but to feed and tend.