By the Sea of Tiberias

- Peter throws himself into the sea by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld

The gospel reading for tomorrow is about one of Jesus' post resurrection appearances to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. It's the final contemplation in Creighton U's online retreat, and I find it interesting for a number of reasons .... the "Sloppy Agape" discussions about the use of different words for "love" in the reading .... the significance of the number of fish caught by the disciples .... and the stuff about the beloved disciple not dying until Jesus returns.

Not really related, but in looking up this stuff I came across a poem by George MacDonald

The Beloved Disciple

I.

One do I see and twelve; but second there
Methinks I know thee, thou beloved one;
Not from thy nobler port, for there are none
More quiet-featured: some there are who bear
Their message on their brows, while others wear
A look of large commission, nor will shun
The fiery trial, so their work is done;
But thou hast parted with thine eyes in prayer--
Unearthly are they both; and so thy lips
Seem like the porches of the spirit land;
For thou hast laid a mighty treasure by
Unlocked by Him in Nature, and thine eye
Burns with a vision and apocalypse
Thy own sweet soul can hardly understand.

II.

A Boanerges too! Upon my heart
It lay a heavy hour: features like thine
Should glow with other message than the shine
Of the earth-burrowing levin, and the start
That cleaveth horrid gulfs! Awful and swart
A moment stoodest thou, but less divine--
Brawny and clad in ruin--till with mine
Thy heart made answering signals, and apart
Beamed forth thy two rapt eyeballs doubly clear
And twice as strong because thou didst thy duty,
And, though affianced to immortal Beauty,
Hiddest not weakly underneath her veil
The pest of Sin and Death which maketh pale:
Henceforward be thy spirit doubly dear!