Read John 21:15-18 | My wife
and I, have four children – three boys and a girl. Valeria came last. So not
only is she the princess, but she is also the baby of the house. When Valeria
was born, having been a parent to three boys, I though, I had things figured
out – that I was an expert, especially at children bait and switch techniques.
“Daddy, do you love me? Yes, Fabian I love you – can you buy me
a Nintendo? Good try – go play outside.” “Daddy, do you love me? Yes, Joel – you daddy loves you a lot – can I sleep over my friend’s house? On a school night? Get out of here boy!
“Daddy, do you love me?, Of course I love you Marcos – can I get new ear buds for my phone, really? Be thankful you have a phone!”
There was no bait, sweet enough to catch me.
Then, came Valeria –
princess Valeria. I remember people used to tell me. “You are in trouble
Hector, girls have a way with daddy.” Not me – I was tough. Three boys. Soccer
players. Boys Scouts – I felt unbreakable.
“Daddy, yes baby? Do you love me? Yes – can I have candy. Of course, just don’t tell your mom I let you.”
“Daddy, yes my princess? (Kissing me all over my face), do you
love me? Can I have Chinese food for dinner? You bet – give me my phone to
place the order.”“Daddy, yes baby? Do you love me? Yes – can I have candy. Of course, just don’t tell your mom I let you.”
“Daddy, (on a Friday afternoon, after a long week at work) do you love me? Yes my dear, what do you want? – can you come ride bikes with me? Baby, daddy is tired. Please, we’ll do it tomorrow. But, tomorrow might rain. Valeria, I am not feeling it (she gets close to me, grabs my face with her hands, and with puppy eyes says) Please, pretty daddy please? for your baby girl? Ok – for my baby girl. Let’s go ride bike.”
I am defenseless. And
when this happens in front of Jazelis or the boys, I get it hard from them
“really dad, she gets away with her way that easy?”
I must clarify that not
all bait and switch requests from my kids have been silly, like the ones I
shared. There have been times that what they share or ask, is really important
for them. Or are things it’s sometimes difficult for me to give to them. Some
of the “daddy, do you love me” have been followed by confessions of wrong
doing, that come with consequences, needing forgiveness and advice.
Other times
they have shared their dreams and hopes for the future, desiring my blessing
and support. Yet others, they just have difficult questions about life, and
faith – and they come to me looking for clarity. And, in all, BECAUSE I LOVE
THEM. I do my best, no matter how difficult it is, or the sacrifices I need to
make – I am there for them. That’s what good parents do. There is nothing I
would not do for the wellbeing of my children and wife.
---Now, let’s talk about Peter. Simon, son of John. Peter responded to Jesus’ call to follow him. He was a passionate disciple. Impulsive, and a tough guy, when needed. But when things got difficult for Jesus, and Peter saw what the authorities did to him, he was filled with fear, to the point, that he denied even knowing him.
Fast forward, after Jesus Resurrection, Peter
and Jesus reunite, and in what seems to be a moment of reinstitution of Peter –
Jesus asked him, “Peter, do you love me?”
What a powerful moment. What a healing question. Through this question I can hear Jesus asking Peter "Peter, I love you, no matter what - do you love me?"
Before that moment,
Jesus had asked him to follow him, to believe in him, to learn from him, to
serve him, to trust him, to befriend him, but this time – the question was
deeper and with greater consequences – Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord Peter
replied – Feed my sheep the Lord requested. What a powerful moment. What a healing question. Through this question I can hear Jesus asking Peter "Peter, I love you, no matter what - do you love me?"
Jesus asked again, “Peter,
do you love me? Yes Lord, you know that I love you – take care of my sheep”,
Jesus asked of him. And again, Jesus asked “Peter, do you love me? Yes Lord, I
love you - Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you
dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will
stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you
do not want to go.”
Talk about bait and
switch. ---
John 21:15-18, is pregnant with holy insights and there are many angles to explore in Jesus encounter with Peter (love, forgiveness, reinstitution, calling and so many other themes). Today, I feel compelled by the Spirit to have us briefly reflect on the question “why do we do what we do every day as individuals, as disciples, and as servant leaders in GNJ?”
We certainly do a lot.
- The bishop and his team provide visionary leadership and oversight.
- The DSes, extend the office of the bishop into the district and serve as missional strategists for their areas,
- The Regional team supports DS in their work.
- The CMT, develops and deploy resources to equip our clergy and congregational leaders.
- Communications is tasked with the important job of telling the story of GNJ.
- Finance and Benefits, they care for administrative mattes so that we have the resources needed for effective ministry,
- The Foundation leverages opportunities to increase our financial assets for ministry
- AFWH is out in the community cultivating opportunities for community development that have a positive impact in people lives.
- Our Property Management team – they care for our infrastructure, and are working to repurpose building into new ministry
- Joanne and her team, provide radical hospitality to all of us and our guest
- NextGen, is raising up the next generation of disciples and leaders for the church and the world.
But, WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO? What motives us everyday to engage in our various responsibilities?
What will keep us
serving as the going keeps getting tougher?
Although we like each other, most days, that alone isn’t enough.
Although we may be sensitive to the needs of those we are called
to serve, that alone isn’t enough either.
Nor should we solely be driven by a need that we have, whether
is a desire to be appreciated or loved by others. Those needs are deep,
and only God can satisfy them. The more we try to satisfy them with anything
else, even God’s work, the more dissatisfied we will become.
Even love for God’s people, Christ sheep, won’t keep us going,
because even sheep can often be unlovable, and we may come to resent them.
Then, why do you do what
you do? I hope and pray that at the top of your list of motivators, in life, in
work and in ministry – when asked “why do you do what you do” you can answer –
I do, what I do, out of my love for God. And not any kind of love, but the kind
of agape or sacrificial love that Jesus asked of Peter. The kind of love that
transcend emotions and feelings and leads us to courage and boldness in our servant
leadership and sustains us when things get tough.
Oswald Chambers once wrote
“If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and
brokenhearted,… but if our motive is the love of Christ, no ingratitude
can hinder us from serving our fellow men and women.
As
we begin a new week of work and ministry together,
As
some of us are preparing to begin a new chapter in our journey of servant
leadership,
And,
as we continue to navigate through the stormy waters of an uncertain future and
discern a way forward for GNJ and the Methodist movement,
May
Jesus question “Do you love me” both challenge and comfort us as it connects
and reconnects us to the core of who we are in Christ, and the why, that
inspires to do what we do.
Prayer Time
- Meditate in these words from God and let them fall over your live as a healing balm “I LOVE YOU…no matter what”.
- Bring to your consciousness one challenge your facing, that difficult person you are dealing with, and in respond to God’s love for you – recommit to LOVE THEM.
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