Deacon Reflection: Do Something About It!

One of the joys about being selected to lead a diocesan committee is that you get to “drive the boat,” and as the one who drives the boat, you often get to decide where the boat goes.

A few weeks ago during a Board of Directors meeting of the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry (EFwM), of which I’m a newly appointed member, we were asked to reflect on a bit of scripture.

"After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish…

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn….

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.'" (John 21:1-7, 9-11, 15-17)

It struck me as we were asked to discuss this with others on the board that this is what the true meaning of what our call to be Christians is all about. Jesus calls us to be fed and shows us how to feed ourselves by the casting of our nets on the other side. But then he tells us that it is not enough to just love and worship him; we must also do something. We must also feed others.

The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry currently cares for many North Carolina resident and temporary farm workers who are working everyday through these unusually trying and troubled times to keep us fed. Many work in torturous fields and in dangerous processing plants. They need our help!

The ministry needs food or money to restock the food bank it operates as well as clothing, bedding, and health and hygiene supplies, especially for the newly arriving H2A workers.

Now is not the time to hide away. Be like Peter: Drive the boat! Do something different: Cast the net on the other side and feed someone. Jesus calls us to “DO SOMETHING”!

This is an invitation and challenge to all congregations, convocations, deaneries and especially to my fellow deacons. Our true calling as Christians is not just worship. We are called to care for and feed Christ’s sheep.

*To support the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry, we encourage you to visit their website or share the image above to go directly to their COVID-19 related relief efforts.

By the Rev. Harrel Johnson