During the month of May we move through the Sundays of the Easter season through the Ascension and towards the celebration of Pentecost in June. We shall hear in our readings each Sunday the Resurrection stories. When Jesus meets with his disciples and followers.

A particular favourite of mine is the early morning encounter on the beach when Jesus shares breakfast with the disciples after they, the disciples, have spent the night fishing.

How does this story in John 21 verses 4 - 14 speak to us today. We often imagine recognising Jesus only in the dramatic or miraculous, but sometimes He shows up in the quiet, in the ordinary, or even in the disappointments. That’s what makes this moment in John 21 so powerful—they didn’t recognise Him at first. And that was after the resurrection, after they had walked with Him for years.

Maybe Jesus for us is in the routine of life, the disciples were out fishing and Jesus was just waiting quietly for them to return to the beach. Is Jesus for us quietly waiting for you to hear His voice. Perhaps we may expect Jesus to show up in a specific way—clear answers, immediate change, healing on our terms. But what if He’s standing just a little off to the side, inviting you to look again, to listen a little closer.

He might be present in the kindness of a friend, the patience of someone who loves you, or even in a challenging relationship that’s stretching you in grace and forgiveness.

Jesus could be in that deep stirring, that sense that something more is calling to you—that might be Him, too. A call not to do more, but to come and sit at the fire He’s already built for you, as he did for the disciples on the beach.

The beauty of this passage is that Jesus didn't demand recognition—He simply offered presence, and then provision. Maybe He’s doing that for you right now in ways you haven’t fully seen yet.

To reflect upon the resurrection stories and through them discern how Jesus is wanting to build relationship with you. How and to what is he calling you.

Through this glorious Easter season let each of us come to God in prayer to reflect with God upon the reality of our lives. To ask that through our reflecting we will come to know His call upon our lives, that through prayer we will know the power of the Risen Christ. That each one of us will feel his presence lead us, hold us, drive us. The time alone with God is foundational to our prayer life, to building our relationship with God and ensuring that our lives richly witness to the Risen Christ.

All of this of course is not just true for us individually but also as a Church, a Christian community bearing witness to the Good News that is the Risen Lord. Bearing the fruits of the Spirit in our prayer and worship together, and when we witness out in the community. A witness identified in what we say, as well as our actions. A love for each other and our community that only comes from our relationship with God, that comes from our worship and prayer together, a love that comes from the Spirit being present and moving through the lives of each of us and the life of our Church.

Let each of us reflect and ask where are we starting to sense Jesus is on the shore in our lives?

Every blessing,

Glenn.