Scripture: John 21:1-12
Question of the Day:  How do you show and live out love & compassion to others?

So what do you like to eat for breakfast? If I’m home, I like cheerios with blueberries, yogurt, banana or fruit, orange juice and maybe toast. If I’m at a restaurant I’ll order pancakes or an omelet and a cup of hot coffee. I think it’s the best meal of the day. But then again, pancakes are good any time of the day. My stepdad loves to eat breakfast at his favorite restaurant and he goes there every morning. They already know his order, because he never changes it. “I’ll take #4,” he says when he walks through their door. And the server hollers back, “Good morning, Ed. We already have it cooking for you.” They’ll bring his coffee, black, and the order is ready in a couple of minutes because they really did start it when he walked through the door. They always bring a take home container, not for his own food which he may eat later, but for the left over meat to feed the dog near his shed where he works. 

I chose this passage today because many people don’t know it exists in the Bible. I’ve had more than one person look me in the eye and say there is nothing about breakfast in scripture. Oh yes there is. Check out John 21.

This particular chapter in John is often ignored by scholars who consider it to be “an appendix to chapters 1-20, written by another hand.” (Interpretation –John by Gerald Sloyan). Even so, I find it fascinating that this story takes place after the resurrection. Jesus and Thomas have met (chapter 20) and talked about belief and doubt. Next, Jesus appears to his disciples when he finds them fishing and not catching a thing. Jesus tells them to cast their net on the other side – and they have more fish than they can care for and carry. Then Jesus says, “Come to shore and have breakfast.” The fire is ready, with grilled fish and bread. 

I like the invitation extended to the disciples and friends --those people who were still in shock that Jesus was with them. But he’s also saying, “It’s more than just about food. It’s more than just another miracle. It’s about love and compassion and not giving up, no matter what.”

We may already know our definition of love, but what, exactly is compassion?
Compassion is defined as: “to feel pity, to suffer with; sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another or others, accompanied by an urge to help; deep sympathy.”  (Webster)

Compassion takes time. It’s putting your emotions and your time into another person’s space and not worrying about your own needs or what’s going on around you. It’s being aware of someone’s needs without stifling them with your own needs. It’s about showing empathy, even if you’ve never walked in their shoes. It’s hard to be genuine and doing it for another person. But that’s what compassion asks of us.
 
I received an email on a week ago from a complete stranger who had attended a wedding I did in this sanctuary this summer. The email said: “Hello, we attended the wedding you did for a friend and liked your presence. We are looking for someone like you to help our family at a time of great emotional need. Our loved one is dying and we want to plan for a simple service. The family does not want a priest, mass or other formal religious representative or formal service. Here’s what we do want. We want to be surrounded by a caring, spiritual presence. We want someone to offer us their attention and compassion and loving-kindness we will so desperately need. Can you help us?” I wrote back, “Yes, I will help you.”

The family emailed me this past week. The subject line in the email said, “Mom passed last night.” And the rest of the letter said, “Are you available later this week?” 
I looked at my calendar and the next few days were surprisingly open. So I said yes.

Do you know how easy it is to say you will be loving and compassionate and how difficult it is to actually follow through on that promise? And to a stranger! But over the next couple of days, when I met with this large Italian Catholic family with 5 adult children who went by numbers in place of names (# 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), I wondered how in the world I could do justice to their request of “wanting to be surrounded by a caring, spiritual presence and to offer us their attention and compassion…” In a way I guess I stepped into this family and became part of their skin and feelings toward a mother they had adored. I listened to their stories, even to some voices that went on and on. But that’s part of being compassionate, isn’t it? I tried to incorporate a section of the various faith levels and backgrounds and put them all together. I tried to assure them that they would not be in this ordeal alone. They had each other and they had the love of their family.

That’s what Jesus did when he tried to help the disciples catch some fish. That’s what he did when he invited them to eat breakfast with him. Jesus tried to teach them that we’re never alone or forsaken by God. We may feel abandoned but we’re really not. Jesus comes and reminds them of their relationship – although it’s new and changed, he still loves them.

You may have heard this story that took place in the Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning 2 years ago. “The man who played 6 Bach pieces in the station for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few second and then hurried to meet his schedule. 4 minutes later the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the box and without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes later a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes later a 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the child stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.

45 minutes the musician played continually. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. The musician collected $32.

1 hour – he finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the highest acclaimed musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days earlier, Joshua Bell had sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people’s priorities. How and when do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?” How many people have to pass by before someone will stop to listen and show compassion? What does it take to get our attention?

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries…” (Dalai Lama)
 
How will we show and live out our love and compassion to others this week?
Will we slow down and listen to a stranger in our midst play beautiful music?
Are we ready for someone who needs our kindness? How will we respond?

Will we help someone with good advice – to cast their net on the other side to catch the fish? Will we invite a friend to come to breakfast and share a meal together?
Are we ready to show compassion?

Come and join me. It’s breakfast time!
Amen.