Breakfast

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. (Jn 21:12)

I broke fast and returned to eating meat, sweets, dairy, leavened bread and coffee. I feel alright, but certainly less energetic and heavy from overheating during this Easter feast. My desire is to return to healthy eating, paying attention to true hunger, seeking God's presence as true food and drink. But the time of fasting is over. The time of feasting is upon us. How might I feast and choose health?

After Jesus' resurrection he appeared at the tomb and later to the disciples behind their locked doors. He breathed upon them the Holy Spirit creating a new man in them each. Thomas was not there and doubted them all that Jesus was alive. So a second time Jesus appeared and showed Himself to Thomas and all those in the room. Thomas believed after seeing. "Blessed are those who believe without seeing," Jesus reminded them and us.

On the beach, after a night of unfruitful labor on the sea of Galilee, the apostles met Jesus a third time. At this meeting Jesus was not recognized at first. When He told them to cast their nets to the right side of the boat, they caught so much fish they could not pull the net aboard. When that miraculous catch occurred they knew who the stranger on the beach was. It was the Lord. They rushed to be rejoined with Him. Upon reaching the beach they saw Jesus with a fire already cooking a few fish. He told them to bring some of the fish to add to the fire. Then Jesus bid them, "Come and have breakfast."

I am reminded of their first meeting with Jesus. After John the baptizer acknowledged Jesus as the Lamb of God, the Messiah, they ran to speak to Him.

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”


   They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”


  “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” (Jn 1:38-39)

And now at the end of John's account of the good news, having seen all that Jesus was doing, they are invited to feast with Jesus over breakfast. There is such rich symbolism here. There is the simplicity of the meal and yet it does satisfy. There are fish and bread reminiscent of the fish and bread enjoyed at the miraculous feeding of the 5000 (Jn 6:8-14). The fish may represent the church, 153 gathered into the new community of light and life in Jesus Christ. And the net that holds them does not break. The net may represent the proclamation of good news about God's love for the world in Jesus His only begotten. The gospel does not break. And the bread is abundant because they are in the presence of Jesus, the Bread of Life. He has the words of eternal life. His words are Life and Spirit.

This all sounds like foolish fairy tales to those outside the net, to those beyond the warmth of the fire preparing the fish for the feast. In the same way that ancients sacrificed animals and burned up the meat as a meal to gods, fish are cooked at the feast with Jesus as a pleasing meal, a sacrifice. All those within the net are dedicated to a life of sacrifice. Disciples of Jesus live sacrificially as a pleasing offering to God. Our very lives are an offering on the holy fire in a perpetual feast before the Lord of Life!

The fast is over and the feast is upon us. The darkness is over and the dawn of a new age is upon us. The reign of God is upon all who are in the gospel net and given over to the holy fire of the Spirit of Jesus. And yet fasting remains a spiritual means by which we may enjoy the feast where true food and drink is found.

"Come and have breakfast," bids our Lord. Come and break away from fasting, from living only by earthly foods and drinks and comforts. No longer deny yourselves the wonders of life in Christ by ignoring His invitation, running after the things of this world. To ignore His invitation is an empty way of life, like a night of fishing with nothing to show for your labor. But when you come to the feast, when you break fast from wandering aimlessly through this world on its meager and short term resources, you find the abundance of the kingdom of heaven in Christ.

Lord, help us to seek Your kingdom above all. Strengthen us in prayer. Feed us on Your words. Revive us with You presence. And give us open hearts to receive eternal life. Amen.