A Disheartening Night

More about A Disheartening Night

This dream is trying to show how Peter felt after he denied Christ three times and went back to fishing. He had been through a lot. He had denied Jesus three times, despite his earlier promises of loyalty and courage. He had seen Jesus arrested, tried, and crucified, and he had been hiding with the other disciples for fear of the authorities. He had also witnessed the empty tomb and the risen Lord, but apparently that was not enough to dispel his guilt, shame, and confusion. So he decided to go fishing, perhaps to escape from his thoughts and feelings, or to return to a familiar activity that gave him some sense of control and competence.

However, the fishing trip did not go well. Peter and the other disciples caught nothing all night, despite their efforts and experience. They were hungry, tired, and disappointed. And then, when they were about to give up and go back to the shore, they saw a stranger who told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They did, and they caught so many fish that they could not haul them all in. That's when Peter realized who the stranger was: it was the Lord.

What happened next was a powerful encounter between Peter and Jesus, between failure and forgiveness, between despair and hope. Peter, who had jumped into the water to get to Jesus as soon as he recognized him, was the first to come to the shore. But he was not the first to speak. Jesus had already prepared a fire with fish and bread, and he invited the disciples to bring some of their own catch to add to the meal.

Peter's emotions were very down before meeting Jesus again, but after this encounter, his emotions were lifted up. He was no longer a failure or a deserter, but a forgiven and empowered disciple. He had a new purpose and a new identity, based not on his own strength or merit, but on Jesus' grace and call. He could go and preach the gospel, heal the sick, and proclaim the kingdom, knowing that he was loved, accepted, and empowered by Jesus. May we also receive Jesus' forgiveness and commission.