Why trouble?

United.

32 As they were going out,[a] a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 [b]But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
35 [c]Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned,[d] like sheep without a shepherd. 37 [e]Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”-Matthew9:32-38

Troubled and abandoned. If the crowds during Jesus' time felt troubled and abandoned, these feelings are still here with us at present. Some think that science and God cannot be united. Some think that philosophy and God cannot be united. Some think that governance and God cannot be united. But the truth is, it can! Where did science come from? From God's creation. Without God's creation, there won't be science anyway. Where did philosophy come from? From a single curiosity and the need for an answer. And this curiosity still came from God who blessed us with a brain packed with knowledge and wisdom far superior than the animals. Where did governance come from? Order! And this came from God who can make crooked lines straight. Can't we see it? Everything and everyone lives, revolves and is rooted in God. Why are we making things complicated? Why do we trouble ourselves when all along the answer is before us?

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The three-fold question

Jesus and Peter.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,[a] “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”[b] He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he 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. 18 [c]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.” 19 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.”-John21:15-19

Yes, it is very noticeable that Jesus addressed Peter by his previous name - Simon, son of John, and not as Cephas. As Simon, son of John, Peter is a man just like the rest, with both strengths and weaknesses. As Cephas or Rock, Peter is a fisher of men, a disciple, a chosen servant of God and successor of Jesus. To whom does Peter truly belong? To the world? Or to Jesus? For me, this is not just a simple Q&A portion. Here, Jesus wants to know if this 'weak' man do really want to be a fisher of men. Here, Jesus wants to know if Peter truly repented. Here, Jesus gives Peter the chance to undo what the latter did in the past (deserting and denying the Messiah) by confirming his love for Jesus at that moment until the end. Here, Jesus wants to know if Peter is willing to leave the 'man' inside of him to be the true fisher of men, shepherd of the flock and successor of Jesus. Well, I do believe Peter answered according to the will of God for him. So too, like him, we are sometimes asked by God. Sometimes we need to confirm and truly embrace with zeal the will of God for us.

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Belonging to Jesus

Believe.

22 The feast of the Dedication[a] was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. 23 [b]And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?[c] If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you[d] and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,[e] and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 30 [f]The Father and I are one.”-John10:22-30

When a person's heart is close, it is difficult to open. When a person believes in something, no one or nothing can dissuade him/her from believing. Jesus' actions and words are so obvious. Many saw Jesus make miracles and extraordinary feats - healing incurable diseases, driving out demons, miracles, teaching with authority, etc. And yet, despite the obvious, the people do not want to believe. Today, there are still many people who try to discredit Jesus. But a true sheep that truly belongs to Jesus hears His voice, believes in Him even if others will not, follows Him even if others will not. To whom do we belong - to Jesus or to a godless world?

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The Sheep and the Shepherd

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep[a] that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.[b] This command I have received from my Father.”-John10:11-18

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He truly loves each and every sheep. When a 'wolf' comes, He doesn't abandon the flock. If even one leaves the flock, He searches for the lost one. Some say what foolishness to leave the 99 for just a single lost sheep! What if the wolf comes along in His absence? Jesus loves us so much that no one is too small or too trivial to ignore, each is important and well-loved by Him. He searches for the lost one - whoever or whatever it may be - because He loves it so much. But leaving the 99 doesn't mean He doesn't love them (perhaps He knows that the 99 will stay and remain where He left them, are safe, and can possibly defend themselves if needed). He looks for the lost one because it needs help the most. We are the sheep and Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He will never allow that harm or evil will come upon us. He will never allow that we get lost. Should we find ourselves harmed, lost or in the midst of evil around us, Jesus will come to give justice, peace and love. The question is, do we hide, run away or come to Jesus when He calls?

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An Impasse

Jesus showed Himself again.

1 [a]After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons,[b] and two others of his disciples. 3 [c]Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” 6 So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 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. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. 9 [d]When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three[e] large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him,[f] “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. 14 [g]This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.-John21:1-14

'I am going fishing' can also be interpreted as going back to the old life. When Jesus did His active ministry, He and His disciples have something to do all the time - teach, preach, heal, drive out demons, etc. But things changed when Jesus died and resurrected. It seems He was not around all the time. 'What must we do?' or 'What will happen now?' is possibly some questions that each disciple asked. The feeling is similar to a flock of sheep losing their shepherd. Perhaps, it is natural to go back to familiar ways. But God has a different plan. Jesus steps into the void and leads the way. At a time of not knowing what to do, Jesus comes and guides. Above all, Jesus remained true to His promise when He called Peter and the other disciples. Their vocation and their role do not stop, rather, it continues and reaches another level. As Jesus said in John14:18, 'I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.'

There are times that we face an impasse, a void; seemingly, life stopped and there is nowhere to go. But, it is in this very moments that Jesus is all the more knocking in our hearts. He is calling us. Jesus is reaching out to us and wanting to guide us. All we have to do is simply to take His hand.

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True Leadership

True leadership is true service especially to the lowliest of all.

1 Before the feast of Passover,[c] Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already induced[d] Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, 3 fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, 4 he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. 5 [e]Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed[f] has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” 11 For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”12 So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. 14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.-John13:1-15

Anywhere in time, we can always read and see kings, queens and leaders live in palaces, beautiful gardens, soldiers and servants at their disposal, in short a comfortable life. In Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, he perfectly illustrated the life of the aristocracy and that of the peasantry. The aristocrats, nobles and royals live in palaces, with good food and wine, and flowing money. Life is good for them. But the peasantry lived poorly and sometimes with nothing at all. Those who are powerful and rich expects to be served and looked up to all the time. But Jesus is the most unique of all powerful leaders. He lives poorly, simply, humbly, above all, loves and serves all especially the poor, the lost, the last and the least. Jesus taught a new and better way of leadership - service with love and humility. For me, all leaders are supposed to be shepherds. A shepherd's work is supposed to care, look after, and protect the sheep, and not the other way around (that is, the sheep caring for the shepherd). Jesus is once more inviting us to be servant-leaders. If we want to be a leader, we have to give our life to service. A true leader must never seek his/her own comforts, luxury and needs.

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