Bishop Mouneer's Sermon at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Singapore (18 April 2010): "Jesus the living and loving Lord"

"Jesus: the living and loving Lord" by The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, Bishop of the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa and Primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East; given at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore at 9am on 18 April 2010. It must have been a very exciting and very joyful moment when the disciples saw the risen Lord. Chapter 20 of the Gospel of John tells us stories of three appearances of the risen Lord: first to Mary Magdalene, then to all the disciples, and then again to all the disciples including Thomas who did not believe the disciples when they told him of the resurrection.

I can imagine how meeting the risen Lord has transformed their fear and sadness into hope and joy. Yet, Chapter 21 tells us that the disciples were uncertain about what to do next. Christ was indeed risen, but what is the implication of this on the lives of the disciples?

In addition to this uncertainty, the disciples must have been hungry and desperate. This was evident from their positive response to Peter's invitation when he said, "I am going out to fish." The disciples responded, "we will go out with you."

So, there they were, uncertain about what they should do. They were desperate and they were hungry, but they also forgot their first call: to be fishermen of people.

We too, like the disciples are endanger of forgetting our call as we go through the difficulties of this world, especially when pressures face us.

The Good News is... that Jesus, the risen Lord, is always at hand. He is available and he reaches out to us in the midst of our uncertainties, despair, difficulties and hunger.

Scripture says, "Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias." Jesus met them at their time of failure-failure to remember their calling and failure to catch fish. It was a double failure: a spiritual and professional one.

Does this say something to you and to me today?

--Jesus love us and reaches out to us, even when we have failed him. Is that not assuring to us? Yes, my brothers and sisters, Jesus is alive now and here with us, wherever we go. This is a great fact! Jesus is not like other prophets who lived and died and left some teaching for us to follow. Jesus is a living and accessible God.

--The other thing is that if we are to follow in the steps of Jesus, we too need to reach out to people in the time of their failure, perplexity and hopelessness; when they are hungry or in need. In other words, we need to spend more time doing Christ's mission than just enjoying the fellowship and worship.

We read in the story that Jesus enabled them to catch plenty of fish, 153 large fish. That is more than what they needed. Not only that, but when they came out to the beach, they found that Jesus had already prepared breakfast for them! Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast."

The disciples must have been very embarrassed. Jesus had already told them, "seek first the kingdom of God and all these, i.e. all your physical needs, will be provided," but they forgot that.

The other very significant thing that happened during this meeting between Jesus and the disciples is that he showed them that they must define their priorities. He asked Peter, "Simon of John, do you truly love me more than these?" Jesus repeated this question three times.

What did Jesus want to say to Peter through this repeated question? I think that Jesus wanted to say that the love of God must be the utmost priority. The love of God must come first before the ministry of God. When Peter responded, "Yes Lord, I love you" then Jesus said to him minister to my people, "take care of my sheep."

Brothers and sister, if we made the love of God our priority, everything else would be secondary and seem trivial. Loving God, truly loving God, when it becomes first, everything else originates from it. This is why the Greatest Commandment is "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." When we love God, then we will be able to love others and serve them.

Brothers and sisters, what would Jesus, the risen Lord, the living God do if he came to Singapore today?

He will search for those who are desperate, sad and for those who have failed, and he will meet them where they are. Should not we do the same?

Let us pray...

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Pentecost 2010

Navigation Home The Global South The Anglican Communion The Province of Jerusalem... The Diocese of Egypt... History of the Diocese The Bishops of the Diocese Newsletters All Saints Cathedral Churches in Egypt Churches in North Africa Churches in The Horn Education Centres Health Care Centres Ministries of the Diocese Latest News Interfaith Dialogue The Guest House Wady Craft Shop Support the Diocese Send us an e-mail Contact Information	Bishop Mouneer's Sermon at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Singapore (18 April 2010): "Jesus the living and loving Lord" "Jesus: the living and loving Lord" by The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, Bishop of the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa and Primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East; given at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore at 9am on 18 April 2010. It must have been a very exciting and very joyful moment when the disciples saw the risen Lord. Chapter 20 of the Gospel of John tells us stories of three appearances of the risen Lord: first to Mary Magdalene, then to all the disciples, and then again to all the disciples including Thomas who did not believe the disciples when they told him of the resurrection. I can imagine how meeting the risen Lord has transformed their fear and sadness into hope and joy. Yet, Chapter 21 tells us that the disciples were uncertain about what to do next. Christ was indeed risen, but what is the implication of this on the lives of the disciples? In addition to this uncertainty, the disciples must have been hungry and desperate. This was evident from their positive response to Peter's invitation when he said, "I am going out to fish." The disciples responded, "we will go out with you." So, there they were, uncertain about what they should do. They were desperate and they were hungry, but they also forgot their first call: to be fishermen of people. We too, like the disciples are endanger of forgetting our call as we go through the difficulties of this world, especially when pressures face us. The Good News is... that Jesus, the risen Lord, is always at hand. He is available and he reaches out to us in the midst of our uncertainties, despair, difficulties and hunger. Scripture says, "Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias." Jesus met them at their time of failure-failure to remember their calling and failure to catch fish. It was a double failure: a spiritual and professional one. Does this say something to you and to me today? --Jesus love us and reaches out to us, even when we have failed him. Is that not assuring to us? Yes, my brothers and sisters, Jesus is alive now and here with us, wherever we go. This is a great fact! Jesus is not like other prophets who lived and died and left some teaching for us to follow. Jesus is a living and accessible God. --The other thing is that if we are to follow in the steps of Jesus, we too need to reach out to people in the time of their failure, perplexity and hopelessness; when they are hungry or in need. In other words, we need to spend more time doing Christ's mission than just enjoying the fellowship and worship. We read in the story that Jesus enabled them to catch plenty of fish, 153 large fish. That is more than what they needed. Not only that, but when they came out to the beach, they found that Jesus had already prepared breakfast for them! Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." The disciples must have been very embarrassed. Jesus had already told them, "seek first the kingdom of God and all these, i.e. all your physical needs, will be provided," but they forgot that. The other very significant thing that happened during this meeting between Jesus and the disciples is that he showed them that they must define their priorities. He asked Peter, "Simon of John, do you truly love me more than these?" Jesus repeated this question three times. What did Jesus want to say to Peter through this repeated question? I think that Jesus wanted to say that the love of God must be the utmost priority. The love of God must come first before the ministry of God. When Peter responded, "Yes Lord, I love you" then Jesus said to him minister to my people, "take care of my sheep." Brothers and sister, if we made the love of God our priority, everything else would be secondary and seem trivial. Loving God, truly loving God, when it becomes first, everything else originates from it. This is why the Greatest Commandment is "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." When we love God, then we will be able to love others and serve them. Brothers and sisters, what would Jesus, the risen Lord, the living God do if he came to Singapore today? He will search for those who are desperate, sad and for those who have failed, and he will meet them where they are. Should not we do the same? Let us pray...	The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis Pentecost 2010 My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, at Pentecost, the Church received the Holy Spirit. This was in fulfilment of Jesus' promise to his disciples "wait until you receive power from on high" Acts 1:8. With receiving the Holy Spirit the disciples received a power to share the Good News within Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the rest of the world. The Holy Spirit still empowers the church today to advance Christ's mission. Jesus Christ and his disciples showed us how we can share the Good News with the people around us. Read more more My Name is Today... Today I need to eat, today I need to play, today I need care, today I need love. Give me hope today for a brighter tomorrow. ______________________________