There are certain verses in the Bible that jump out at me every time I read or contemplate them. They nail vital aspects of our faith, key points that help us to frame our understanding of God and our life with him. We have one of them this morning.

“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we above all people are to be most pitied.” (1 Corinthians 1:19)

As you heard, Paul wrote this as part of his strong affirmation of the Resurrection of Jesus and his promise for our own resurrection. The “vital aspects of our faith” include our understanding of who Jesus is and where he is leading us.

First, Jesus teaches us how we are to live as individuals and in community, as family, neighbors and so on. And it’s not just what he says. It’s how he says it. In one place he’s general, “Love your neighbor.” In another he’s very specific, “You must forgive.” He shares parables that invite us to reflect on different aspects of a story and how it rubs up against our own lives, in effect teaching us to think more like him.

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I’d like to begin our look at this morning’s gospel from the perspective of the fish. These fish are tilapia, by the way, mild fish. And they have evolved to live a rather simple life, swimming around doing what tilapia do, perhaps aware that forces beyond their normal life are seeking to catch them. The net comes and they try to escape. Some do escape!

Peter is after tilapia, doing what fishermen do. Experienced fishermen know their favorite spots. Peter and his friends are likely at a spot called Tabgha, where seven warm springs flow into the Sea of Galilee. Tilapia like that spot and they tend to stay close to shore there, in the shallow water, where they can find algae, living or dead plants and insects.

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This morning, we are reminded of the paradoxical nature of Jesus – seemingly opposed or even opposite truths about him that are nevertheless true at the same time. All through the birth narrative, including this precious scene, he is at once glorified, yet shockingly humble.

The angel Gabriel announces his coming birth, but to a young, virgin woman in Nazareth, a tiny town of no importance. When he is born in Bethlehem, and angel appears to proclaim this world-changing news and is joined by a heavenly host. What a stunning vision this must have been in a time when they had no fireworks or spotlights or drones.

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