Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Holy Communion: Celebration of Everlasting Relationship.
John 21:  7-14
Dr. Susan Alex

Atlanta Mar Thoma Church

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” 
  
 This miracle took place at Jesus’ third appearance after the resurrection. Peter took some of the fellow disciples for fishing and six of them followed him. They did not catch anything that whole night. Some considered it as the disciples returning to their usual daily tasks of life as some of them were fishermen. It was a time when they lost a clear direction in their life. They needed a new perspective in their life with a new vigor, vision and hope. Jesus called them out to be ‘fishers of men’, not fishermen. Some consider that they went against their calling.  Yet, Jesus did not condemn them nor belittle them. Jesus took the initiative to appear where they were to bring them back. If we do not have Christ’s presence and guidance, what we do will not yield the results we hoped for. Jesus instructed them to ‘cast the net on the right side’. As the disciples listened and obeyed, their net was full of fish; 153 to be exact and even then it did not tear their net. This is known as the “153 Fish” miracle. It is said that 153 included all varieties of fishes. It indicated the evangelistic “fishing” as assigned by Jesus to the Apostles and the superabundance of the ingathering of all the different races of mankind. God’s net is all inclusive. It also showed the abundance of the gifts they received when they obeyed. It was only after Jesus' appearance that they found result; success of sustenance and faith. The task ahead of us is to go out and do what God put us here on earth to do. When God gives us a calling, He will equip us with everything we need.

 
The disciple Jesus loved the most, John, was the first to recognize Jesus’ voice. Peter, the most zealous, reached Jesus first. In spite of their differences, Jesus accepted them all alike and had provisions ready for all of them.

He is still calling each and every one of us. Be obedient to Him and His word. Put our past sins and failures to rest, completely surrender to our Lord and have that everlasting relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. It is when we are almost lost that Jesus will make Himself known. He has set the table ready for every one of us to partake in the Holy Communion; saying “this is my body broken for you, this is my blood shed for your sins”. We partake in it in remembrance of His ultimate sacrifice. Just as He is the center of the Holy Communion, He should be the center of our life and our community.

Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. Let us keep this  feast of Holy Communion by renewing our repentance, our faith in His blood and surrendering ourselves to His service.

PRAYER

O Lord, Help us to recognize your voice when you call us. Help us to be obedient to your will. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
  We can celebrate an everlasting relationship with Christ by partaking regularly in the Holy Communion with a contrite heart. 


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