Back To the Beginning

So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
—John 21:1-19

I went back to the beginning,
now that we had reached the end
and the sun kept right on spinning
over us bewildered men.
For we found the tomb was empty
that we'd laid his body in—
I went back to where he met me;
maybe there I could begin.

Without hope and without mooring
we caught nothing through the night,
but a voice came with the morning,
“Cast your nets upon the right.”
So, dawn-dazzled, we worked blindly
just to bring the nets on board.
John alone of us saw rightly:
“Peter, look: It is the Lord!”

Once, I thought it wouldn't faze me
just to walk upon the depths.
In the end, I begged him, “Save me!”
I was sinking to my death.
Now I see the friend who fed me,
and I plunge into the wave
sinking down without a tremor
like a body in a grave.

I am not afraid of dying,
now my death is bound with his.
In his mercy, I am rising
from the dark of my abyss.
Now his dawning fills my vision:
There is welcome in his eyes.
I have fallen; I am risen
in the morning light of Christ.

Christ Appears On the Shore of Lake Tiberias, By James Tissot, circa 1886/94 – Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2008, 00.159.343_PS2.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10904799

Peter On the Deck

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
—Luke 5:1-11

Who are you who can call
a catch from empty seas
to fill our nets, our boats, and all,
yet bring me to my knees?

See, I had fished all night
my gaping hold to fill,
but at the dawning of the light
my boat was empty still.

Depart from me, O Lord;
I am a sinful man.
I'd not have taken you on board
if I had known your plan.

For when you gave the word 
I cast my nets again—
and I was caught by what I've heard.
Your nets are catching men.

You draw me from my sea—
I cower on the deck
and don't know if my life will be
a voyage or a wreck.

But I'll obey the call
to cast these nets once more
and offer you, my God, my all—
not my catch now but yours.

James Tissot, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, Brooklyn Museum – Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2006, 00.159.87_PS1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10195917

Who Do We Say You Are?

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-20

From east and west, O Lord, we come,
from all points near and far
to answer this in every tongue:
Who do we say you are?

A prophet like all those before
touched with a holy flame?
You prophesy and yet are more
than any prophet's claim.

A king to reign o'er every land,
a sword in hand you take?
You are the king, yet in your hand
is bread you bless and break.

A great high priest to stnd for us
before the face of God?
Both priest and victim, fire and blood,
and true God from true God.

You are the Christ, God's living Son;
there is no other word.
You are God's own beloved one,
God's love itself, our Lord.

Then we will go from east to west
announcing who you are:
God's love for every one of us,
light shining in the dark.

Jesus Christ – detail from Deesis mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul By Edal Anton Lefterov – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15165689

Touch

For the Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A), combining Elijah and the still, small voice with Peter walking on water. To the tune ST. THOMAS:

Touch my ears that I may hear you,
not in thunder's raging noise;
let the humble things reveal you
in the smallest whispered voice.
Touch my ears, O Lord, and heal me:
Let me hear you and rejoice.

Touch my eyes that I may see you,
not in tempest or in flame.
Presence in my fear reveals you,
walking toward me on the waves.
Touch my eyes, O Lord, and heal me:
Let me see the hand that saves.

Touch my heart and draw it near you,
not in grandeur or in pride.
Trust, even in doubt, reveals you,
lifts me ever to your side.
Touch my heart, O Lord, and heal me:
Let me sense how grace provides.

Touch my life that I may feel you,
not in praise that I look for.
Quiet moments will reveal you,
still my restless search for more.
Touch my life, O Lord, and heal me:
Let me know you'll calm the storm.

Henry Ossawa Tanner – The Disciples See Christ Walking on the Water, c. 1907. Oil on canvas, 51.5 x 42 in. Des Moines Art Center – The Catholic Beat, Aug. 14, 2012, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20672406

Peter II

You said that you would serve me,
the cleansing water poured
though I could not deserve it—
but wash me now, O Lord.

While you awaited Judas,
I laid me down and slept,
but I have heard the rooster,
and bitterly I wept.

For I have failed my tempting;
my own heart I denied,
and now my nets are empty,
though I have fished all night.

You call out from the shoreline
beyond the night of grief.
I plunge into the ocean
let it wash me clean.

You ask me if I love you;
you ask it yet again.
Three times your ask it of me,
as you foretold my sin.

And three times I have answered,
and will a thousand more
through all the years advancing:
You know I love you, Lord.

Raphael, *Christ’s Charge to Peter*, 1515. – Victoria and Albert Museum, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1718074

Peter I

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
Jesus said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a 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.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
John 21:15-19

To the tune NON DIGNUS:

O Lord, you know I love you,
though human hearts are frail.
You know how I turned from you,
when all my courage failed.

You now how I denied you;
you saw when I turned back,
but now I sit beside you—
and will you take me back?

Oh, how can you believe me?
What promise could I keep?
But somehow you receive me,
and tell me feed your sheep.

So I will be a shepherd
and all the world my field,
as I have been a fisher
for all the seas would yield.

Forever I shall follow
where you have gone before.
I am reborn from sorrow,
because you love me, Lord.

William de Brailes, *Christ Appears at Lake Tiberias*, c. 1250. – Walters Art Museum: Home page Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18850975

And Spoke With Love

For Easter season (and today, Divine Mercy Sunday), to the tune LAND OF REST (“I Come With Joy To Meet My Lord”):

We turned from you, O living Lord,
and lost ourselves instead,
yet if you will but say the word,
we, too, rise from the dead.

Though Peter his own faith denied
and wept to feel his shame,
you asked him for his love three times
and spoke with love his name.

Though Thomas spurned what he was told,
you blessed him all the same:
your wounded hands to him you showed
and spoke with love his name.

Though Mary could not recognize
the one she'd come to claim,
you opened up her tearful eyes
and spoke with love her name.

Then speak our names, O living Lord,
and call us from our death.
Created by the spoken word,
we rise upon your breath.

The Doubting of Thomas – Google Art Project ca. 1000, in the collection of St. Sophia of Kyiv By Unknown – wAEMzKCxTh24MQ at Google Cultural Institute, zoom level maximum, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29119632

Two Sparrows

Inspired by the Gospel for the Feast of the Holy Family, but not closely based on it.

 Two sparrows for a widow's mite,
 and yet you see them fall,
 and you, who lift their wings in flight,
 O God, you hear them call.
 You make their singing your delight;
 you love the poor and small,
 and all their struggles you requite,
 for you are lord of all.
  
 Two turtledoves a son redeem,
 a mother purify,
 who trust the law and all it deems,
 who trust you will supply.
 And you, who made the waters teem
 and filled the empty sky,
 pour down your love in flowing streams,
 for you are lord on high.
  
 Two times the rooster cried the dawn;
 we weep now for our sin.
 Our pride and self-deception gone,
 repentance we begin.
 And you, who sent your only Son
 our lives from death to win,
 look down on every broken one
 and be our lord within.

Dove with an olive branch, Catacombs of Domitilla, Rome, Photo By Dnalor 01 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32603350

“Get Behind Me”

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Matthew 16:22-23

The road began at Nazareth
to end at Calvary.
In every moment, every breath,
you chose, oh Christ, to be:
embracing flesh, embracing death,
not bound by fate, but free.
And as I follow in your steps,
oh, clear the way for me!

You, Christ, accepted passion's call
to suffer, die, and rise,
while I cry, God forbid it all!
and say the cross is lies.
Forgive me, Lord: My steps are small;
my heart your love denies.
I follow after Adam's fall
while you go to the skies.

I'm far behind you, saving Lord,
but help me journey still:
To draw my ready, eager sword
and bend it to your will;
my empty net cast overboard
and trust in you to fill;
then follow you through death's dark door
and all my hopes fulfill.

By Annibale Carracci – http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/annibale-carracci-christ-appearing-to-saint-peter-on-the-appian-way National Gallery, London, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=326162

Peter’s Confession

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16

To the tune NON DIGNUS (“Oh Lord, I Am Not Worthy”):

We hear the prophets' echo
in every word you speak
and find in your reflection
the very God we seek.

A teacher and a healer
in word and work divine,
our inner selves' revealer
and star that in us shines.

In every note we hear it,
how sharper than a sword
that pierces soul and spirit:
your word to us, oh Lord.

Elijah or the Baptist,
great Moses come again—
No, Teacher, you surpass them:
the Son of God made man.

The long-looked-for Messiah
we know you, Lord and God,
desired and our desirer
who has his seekers called.

You summon us; we meet you
and bow your truth before.
The Christ himself we greet you,
confessing evermore.