This week, the disciples have gone fishing. It feels like an interesting choice following the events of Good Friday and Easter. Yet, even in their attempt to go back to what they know, to the lives they lived before Jesus came and called them from their fishing boats, Jesus comes strolling down the shoreline again. There, he cooks them a meal of fish for breakfast. 

Following the meal, Jesus shares a conversation with Peter. He asks Peter if he loves him. Three times. This well-known story from the Gospel of John is a gospel reading often used at ordinations, the services where deacons, pastors and bishops are set apart for the ministries to which they are called. 

As I have shared before, the topic of my doctoral research thesis is the Lutheran Office of Ministry. Or in other words, the understanding that Lutherans share of how clergy or ordained ministers go about their work. As I hear this gospel lesson about Jesus’ meeting with confused disciples, uncertain of what to do next, I cannot help but think about the work of pastors and other clergy. 

Often, it can seem like pastors are the only ones “called” to ministry in the church. Or at least we talk and act like that is the case. But as you know, I am fond of repeating, our calling is firstly a baptismal calling⎯one we all share. 

Still, it’s easy to think that the only person doing ministry is the pastor. I believe this perspective on ministry stems from an unavoidable reality that pastors and clergy are often working at the heart of the ministry of a congregation or faith community. Pastors are tasked with preaching the Word and administering the Sacraments. Pastors bear responsibility for the care of the community of faith. 

When Jesus looks at Peter and asks, “Peter, do you love me?”,

Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Then Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus is calling Peter to ministry. Yet, it doesn’t mean that this is a task just for clergy. 

Ministry happens in congregations and faith communities. Ministry happens relationally. Ministry doesn’t take place with one person or another, but rather happens in the space in between. The space in between the pastor and the congregation is the place of ministry. We physically represent this in worship with Word and Sacrament. The Word becomes Gospel as it is announced from the pulpit and into waiting ears in the pews. The Holy Spirit meets the newly baptized as the waters fall from the hands of the presider onto the head of the baptized. The Body of Christ joins us to itself and each other as bread and wine are passed from communion server to communicant. 

Ministry, the work of the gospel, happens between us. And I think that is why Jesus tells Peter to feed his sheep three times. Jesus is reminding us that it isn’t about Peter and it isn’t about the sheep. It is about the Bread of New Life that feeds us with the Gospel.