Right Hand of God, Right Side of the Boat, and the Stretched Hands of Peter: Where are You?
Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
“Where are you” is an invitation to take bearings because the Christian faith and life is a journey. Like every journey, there are markers and indices that show where we are at – the importance of a place. Places and place-names are important beyond point of references; the location of a thing tells, at least, three things about it: why it is there, its importance, and how it got there. In our human society, some belong to high-class, others, low-class. In companies and parastatals, some are CEOs, directors and cleaners. In our academic institutions, some are students, professors, chair-holders, etc. In our readings today, three markers in our journey of faith are indicated to us, and how both to arrive at them and live there.
Since we still bask in the euphoria of the resurrection of Christ, our first reading draws our attention to the final destination of a Christian’s life and faith – a place “at the right hand/side of God”. The journey of a Christian is this quest for unity and communion with God after our earthly existence. The apostles of Jesus, in our first reading, celebrate the arrival of Jesus at the right hand of God in two ways: first, the miracles Jesus was working on earth, he continues to work through his apostles; second, Jesus is now beyond suffering and pain that characterize earthly existence – he is being rewarded for his services and sacrifices on earth. Consequently, the “right-side/hand of God” (Acts 5:31) is a place of rest, power, and continuous solicitude for the human beings still on earth – the pilgrim church/body of Christ.
To talk about the “right side of the boat,” from our gospel perspective, is to underscore the active and keen interest Jesus takes in our affairs as his children. The death and resurrection of Jesus only changed the approach to the help we receive from God – the invisible presence of God among us. The disciples who went fishing caught nothing, and were famished. Jesus appeared on the shore calling out to them: “‘Children, have you caught anything to eat?’They answered him, ‘No’” (John 21:5). See how Jesus came to them, when they needed help! He never minded the fact that they weren’t doing what they were supposed to be doing – evangelization. In fact, their frustration and hunger blinded them to his presence. The grief over his absence through death did not prepare them for a different mode of contact and relationship. But Jesus took the initiative to call out to them: “Children”! Children, indeed, for that’s what they were: being everywhere except where they ought to be and doing what they should be doing – their homework! From the “right side of God,” Jesus directed the apostles to the “right side of the boat” where there is abundance of fish, provided by God for them. The directives of Jesus to the apostles, and the mention of the “right side” shows where the power of God is hidden, and ready to deploy at God’s bidding.
Beyond the physically “out stretched hands” of Peter to show his willingness to embrace love as sacrifice, one sees a beggary hand soliciting God’s help when the going is tough. It is no longer Peter who will be calling the shots, the power of love will lead him to places where his Master – Jesus Christ – went ahead of him. “Macho” did not sustain Peter, he denied Jesus at the critical moment he needed to bear witness. Today, Jesus replaces macho with love! The triple questions, “do you love?” will receive a physical responds through the sufferings Peter will endure. Already, there is imprisonment and torture of the apostles in the hands of the leadership of the day, as our first reading recounts. The points of suffering and persecutions tell the story of a pilgrim still on a journey; they tell of the need for faithfulness in trial, in the hope of an eventual victory – a place “at the right side of God”. However, the grace of victory requires that our “outstretched hands” become prayers – an “orans-praying” position.
The final destination – at the right side of God – necessitated the cross of Christ. Our second reading puts it this way – “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches . . . To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever” (Revelation 5:12-13). Every Christian is destined for communion with God, but through present sufferings and sacrifices. The offer of love to Peter, in our gospel, is the offer of salvation – to stretch out one’s hands for love of God and neighbor. When one fails to be at any of these moments – right side of God, right side of the boat or having an out stretched hands – it is to have missed one’s bearings in the journey of life and faith. With outstretched hands like Peter’s, it is very vital to listen to the voice calling out to us to cast the net of our worries at the appropriate place – before him who sits at the right side of God; the voice calling us to come for breakfast – Holy Communion/Eucharist, the daily miracles of good health, good family, good jobs and landmark successes, is Jesus’. Even when the night is pitch-dark, there will still be a voice calling out: “‘Children, have you caught anything to eat?’” (John 21:5).
For you and me, our journey of life and faith needs to keep these three aspects in view. Here and now, we must go through periods of “out stretched hands” because of the difficulties that come with professing faith in Jesus Christ. We must learn to surrender our wills to God, and allow him to direct and pilot the affairs of our lives. While we do that, we must not forget to listen to his voice, calling us to fidelity – “do you love me?” On his part, God sends us consolations through his invisible presence – his voice – asking us to cast the net to the right side of the boat. Jesus comes in the peak of our sorrows with the right kind of miracles we need to nudge us on in fidelity to him, as he did for the apostles in the gospel of this day. Above all, however, Jesus expectantly awaits our communion with him and his Father, at the right side of God. Let’s keep faith and hope alive!
Assignment for the Week:
Offer words of encouragement to someone you know is going through tough times.