PAIN OF ALL, WHEN WE FAIL TO LIVE UP TO

OUR OWN EXPECTATIONS OF OURSELVES.

HAVE YOU NOT BEEN THERE?

ality A LONG TIME AGO THERE USED TO BE A

DAY WHEN PARENTS WERE INVITED TO VISIT
a

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. \ IT WAS CALLED

sR

PARENTS’ Day feo STUDENTS LOOKED FORWARD

TO IT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF FEELINGS FROM

weet i Ae

EXCITEMENT TO MORTAL TERROR. | THE HIGH

a

POINT OF THE AFTERNOON ON ParReNTS’ Day

ONE YEAR WAS TO BE A SPELLING ser. \ Ir
‘penitence

WAS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE. \z HAD

BEEN DOING VERY WELL IN SPELLING BEES,

ae
FINISHING REGULARLY NEAR THE TOP.
al

UNFORTUNATELY I HAD ANNOUNCED THAT FACT
=

baal

Qurents

TO MY oeemer. | In FAcT I HAD PROMISED A

REPEAT PERFORMANCE WHICH WOULD MAKE HE® My moth

PROUD on eee DAY. [ THe MOMENT

2S

ARRIVED a SUPREMELY CONEDEMT, I FOUND

MY PLACE oor THE HEAD OF THE LINE ——tln ig

plow

Wor for wae

(

hw pry
F > THE EASY WORDS CAME FIRST: \ tHe yeex,
FIRST ONE wh “rene. I RESPONDED WITH

= a
THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF A NINE-YEAR-OLD -
[ee
"A..C..E..R." |r REMEMBER THAT MOMENT
———s
WITH A TERRIBLE CLARITY DECADES LATER.
Mo ve
HAVE YOU NOT BEEN THERE? {or st- st 7 bao \
— wst of Yen ae

COURSE YOU HAVE. — — Srncwher bo wween wr

Awa th = imolk,
IF YOU HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS, uwrarw’s ba Feo\y

ea
—

YOU HAVE KNOWN GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. "\ Aw er Vouae,

IF YOU HAVE EVER WANTED DESPERATELY TO

Can) vou KNOW HOW BITTER DEFEAT TASTES.

IF YOU\HAVE HELD HIGH HOPES FOR JOUR

NATION, YO

BR. FTEAM, YOUR FAMI

YOURSELF, YOU HAVE, AMoW DEEPLY THE

Room WrtH Orpen’ Doors, Pp. 151]

THERE WAS A CLASSIC MOMENT AFTER

ONE OF ADLAI STEVENSON'S CRUSHING

TEE

DEFEATS IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL eros. | A

SE ee

REPORTER ASKED HOW IT FELT TO BE

beek e>
BEELEAEEB“S0 DECISIVELY. \ MR. STEVENSON
C™
SAID HE WAS \'TOO OLD TO CRY BUT IT HURT
~ eto -

TOO MUCH TO LauGH.” |
Soe,

Weke scles
AND PEOPLE WHO PREACH SERMONS gaurd atc
RE E

UNDERSTAND THE STORY ABOUT THE MINISTER
<—[——a qe

WHO TRAVELED TO ANOTHER CITY TO PREACH A
CANDIDATE FOR THE PULPIT

COMMITTEE OF A VERY PROMINENT CHURCH.
Gre

WHEN SHE RETURNED THAT EVENING HER

HUSBAND INQUIRED HOW THE SERMON HAD

cone ("WNzCH oneP} SHE asxeo.\ ("Tue ove

I PREPARED, THE ONE I DELIVERED, OR THE
SE Se ee

ONE I PREACHED IN THE CAR ON THE WAY

HOME?"

ee

THIS PAIN HAS TWO SOURCES. | ive

FIRST IS PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT. | tr_wuprs

TO TRY SOMETHING AND Fatt, \ro BE
pies a ,
HUMILIATED IN FRONT OF YOUR PARENTS,

PEERS, YOUR EMPLOYER, COACH, CONDUCTOR,
aa wliiae

SPOUSE. \ te JURY IS IN. re TERRIBLE

nema el

TRUTH IS our. \ You’ RE Nor. WHAT THEY

a al

THOUGHT YOU WERE. \ ir HURTS - BUT IT'S

NOT FATAL. \ YOU'LL SURVIVE.
ee |

THE SECOND SOURCE IS MORE

COMPLICATED. \ ar HAS TO DO WITH YOUR
Ce cr aneementl

EXPECTATIONS OF YOURSELF. \ Mayse YOu

ba]

DIDN'T HAVE MUCH BY WAY OF EXPECTATIONS
ei

FOR YOURSELF;
Sector

MinEeine> MAYBE IT TOOK A WHILE_AND
tos

SOME REAL INTERNAL FORTITUDE TO HAVE

tee

SOME REAL EXPECTATIONS

=

SHERI . MAYBE YOU HAD TO WORK_HARD TO

BUILD ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO a | ov

sesamiae ed

MAYBE YOU CREATED AN EXPECTATION

FOR YOURSELF HIGHER THAN ANYTHING YOU
De Le

fant ——

EVER HOPED FOR. | you STARTED TO BELIEVE
eer,

THAT YOU COULD DO IT. \ ano THEN YOU
ei be |
pron’. \ THE MOMENT OF TRUTH ARRIVED AND
rh Ln]

You Fluajyee AAO sremle pa uer
CONFEDENTI: | YOUR CAREFULLY REHEARSED a

REBUTTAL THE ARGUMENT DIDN'T COME OUT

lost Youve

RIGHT; }rou STaiegeBD IN THE MIDDLE OF

THE SALES preseNtatrow;| You STRUCK OUT
/

WITH THE WINNING RUN ON THIRD; {OR YOU
aE

NEVER PARENTED IN ACTUALITY AS
Weemmememer SEITE

SENSITIVELY AND INTELLIGENTLY AS YOU DID
emma ao

LATE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
Lei

THERE IS PAIN WHICH RESULTS FROM NOT
ec asia

LIVING UP TO YOUR OWN expectations. | It

HAS A WAY OF BECOMING PERMANENT,

LOW-GRADE PAIN, EMOTIONAL SCAR TISSUE,

sedi daiemeamann alll
IF YOU watt. \ HAS AY
7

AN ETHOD OF IDING FURTHER

PAIN; wa pee? ON lor

creer) ti Lovenzng pcan
f

A DIMINISHMENT 5 mee X sphen uf TO

EXPECT TOO wear’. MYSELF, WE REASON:

T EN I WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED WHEN I

FAIL.

MosT OF US LIVE MOST OF_THE TIME
aS Ee

BETWEEN OUR EXPECTATIONS OF OURSELVES

AND THE UNVARNISHED REALITY OF OUR

LIVES. | AND IN THAT SPACE THERE CAN BE A

LOT OF ras. It IS ONE OF THE REASONS
es mane

WE FIND THE ok OF PETER so

COMPELLING. s.\ HE IS, IN MANY WAYS, THE

MOST ACCESSIBLE PERSON IN THE NEW

SS

TESTAMENT. \ AND THE ACCOUNT, IN THE 21ST

CHAPTER OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, OF HIS
ai a

ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN CHRIST IS, I

HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT, ONE OF THE MOST
See

ls

Human, | ano THEREFORE ONE OF THE MOST

==

POWERFUL, INCIDENTS IN THE preve.|\ rr Is

CERTAINLY ONE WHICH MOST _QF US HAVE NO

TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING.

ee a
wi. ay oul we AMERICAN NOVELIST) R&¥NOLDS PRICE,
OW LN ek te a
wae yor W , T THE
vi bn a Beste, SAYS THIS PASSAGE AT THE END OF | lees b
Sag 47H GOSPEL HAS THE FEEL OF Wa pre
\s —eN ‘ot EYEWITNESS REPORTING wey Vt
woo
pore | \ f ty Gor
C4 we 9riet THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF he
k ary INVENTED SCENES IN WESTERN Red

nl

FICTION THAT WIN OUR MOMENTARY

scurer.| BuT NOTHING I HAVE

ENCOUNTERED IN A LIFETIME’S
READING, SURPASSES THE SIMPLE
CONVICTION, THE PURE-WATER
FLOW OF JOHN 21."

CINCARNATION, P. 64]

THE STORY OF PETER IS WOVEN INTO
er

be

THE NARRATIVE FROM THE aecrnnine. | WHAT

WE KNOW IS THAT HE WAS A GALILEAN
aa

FISHERMAN HERMAN,| STRONG, ROUGH ROUGH; {HE HAD A WIFE,

A FAMILY, \a roTuen- 14.0: WAS
es —r =a

AGGRESSIVE, IMPETUOUS; \HE FREQUENTLY
De

eRe
Be]

SPOKE FIRST AND TFHOUGHT ABOUT IT LATER;
See

HE BECAME THE LEADER, \THE SPOKESPERSON

FOR THE DISCIPLES, AND WITH PAUL, BECAME

AN ELOQUENT AND STRONG AMBASSADOR FOR
ENT ING _AMBASSAD

10

OCP

JESUS CHRIST AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

EXTENSION AND GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT PETER IS HIS

etree “
runauness.|\t WAS A MAN WITH A HEART

FULL, OF Love [AND A RECORD OF NOT LIVING
we

UP TO HIS OWN EXPECTATIONS.

Page,

WHEN JESUS INVITED HIM TO FOLLOW,

PETER DID, WITHOUT weszTaTzoN. \ HE WAS

ONE OF THOSE THE NARRATIVE SAYS SIMPLY,

"LAID DOWN HIS NETS AND roLtowep."" )

ALONG WITH JAMES AND JQHN HE BECAME PART

OF AN UNOFFICIAL INNER CIRCLE OF CLOSE
Sen oer
FRIENDS AROUND aesus.| nen JESUS ASKED
Ee, ‘Wiientetinathienttaiern riedecmita

THEM ONE DAY WHO THEY THOUGHT HE WAS, IT

bg

WAS PETER WHO VOLUNTEERED, \"vou ARE THE

CHRIST," (AND MOMENTS LATER IT WAS PETER

tte

11

WHO DEMONSTRATED THE DIFFICULTY THE

WORLD HAS ALWAYS HAD WITH THAT
Serene |
AFFIRMATION BY REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE
St il me,
INEVITABILITY OF CHRIST'S SUFFERING AND
Hee" on
DEATH. \ AND SO IT WAS TO_PETER THAT

JESUS SAID HIS HARSHEST WORDS, (Ger

BEHIND ME SATAN.”
i.

HE WAS ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH JESUS

AND SHARED AN EXPERIENCE OF MYSTICAL

POWER AND THEN MADE A TASTELESS
‘emaranita, irre

SUGGESTION THAT THEY BUILD A MONUMENT TO
..

THE PLACE AND OCCASION. \ HE WAS THE ONE
Soren.

|

WHO VOICED HIS EMOTION AND OBJECTED WHEN

JESUS WASHED THEIR reer. \ on THAT

anita

OCCASION, THE LAST SUPPER, \IT IS PETER

el

WHO DEMANDED TO KNOW THE IDENTITY OF THE

12

BETRAYER.| AND WHEN JESUS PREDICTED THAT

oe)

THEY WOULD ALL ABANDON HIM SOON, IT WAS
a aw

PETER, BURSTING WITH PASSION AND LOVE,
fn

WHO PROMISED BRAVELY,\ "THOUGH EVERYONE
eee be ———_ ———saad

ABANDON you, \I AM WITH YOU TO THE END.
ee i —

I WILL DIE WITH You." | taar GRAND
ote Gees =

GESTURE PROMPTED JESUS TO PREDICT THAT,

IN ACTUALITY, PETER IS GOING TO ABANDON

HIM TOO. \ IN FACT, PETER WILL DENY EVEN
eee Sea —— oo

KNOWING JESUS THREE TIMES BEFORE

"Ls {ere_amy wher

MORNING. al a shrager ar Srver
—s a

WHEN THE GUARDS COME FOR JESUS IT
Remeron
IS PETER ALONE WHO RESISTED, | wo DRA@H_S

HIS SWORD AND STARTEB TO USE zz.{ THAT,

I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT, WAS THE MOMENT HE
—————

13

WOULD HAVE DIED ror Jesus, \zn THE HEAT

OF COMBAT, MAN TO MAN.
aie.

oe

Hours LATER, PETER ALONE IS IN THE
Seemeeucnme oo == j.§ “HEHnEmimun

COURTYARD OF THE HiGH PRIEST WHILE JESUS

bi nd eco
Is INs1DE,\ BEING INTERROGATED AND TRIED.
ial ey,

IT IS LATE AND coup, \ THERE Is A
we uy,

CHARCOAL FIRE. \a HOUSEHOLD MAID
Sd

RECOGNIZES um. | (“You're ONE OF THEM,

AREN'T you?")"I AM NOT," PETER SAID.
Sesto

LATER, SOMEONE ELSE nsxgo, Chaen"s
YOU ONE OF HIS piscrpLes?" )"I AM NOT,"
PETER SAID.

Miki ear ee

Cpur I SAW YOU IN THE GARDEN ~ YOU

ie

WERE THE ONE WITH THE SWORD."

ne am

14

"DAMN IT, MAN, LET ME avone. | I
eg ERENT

NEVER SAW HIM serone,")PeTeR SAID.

AND THE COCK CROWED AND WHEN THEY

BROUGHT JESUS OUT, HIS FACE SWOLLEN FROM
aia ti ail Be

THE BEATING, |tanps BOUND BEHIND HIS

‘

BACK, rere EYES MUST HAVE mer, \THE LAST

TIME PETER WOULD LOOK INTO THOSE EYES.

io Decree ts |

HE DID NOT DIE WITH JESUS. | ue_oxo

NOT STAY WITH wim. \He DID WHAT THE REST
heres. ‘Sere,
OF THEM DID ULTIMATELY, SAVED HIS OWN

[Ee eee

SKIN,\ DENTED EVER KNOWING JESUS. \ How

VERY FAR FROM HIS BRAVE BOASTING, |Hzs

ENDEARING ATTEMPT AT courace\, HIS

IDEALISTIC EXPECTATION OF HIMSELF,

15

PETER MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED THE

wee i MASE

PAIN OF JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION MORE

EXQUISITELY AND CERTAINLY MORE
tei MATE

PERSONALLY THAN ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING IN

Lae

Htstogy. \ CaN YOU IMAGINE THE GUILT, |rne

SHAME, \THE EMBARRASSMENT? \can You
torino

IMAGINE HOW FOOLISH HE FELT IN THE

PRESENCE OF HIS FRIENDS WHO AT LEAST HAD
eee

THE COMMON SENSE NOT TO BOAST ABOUT

SOMETHING THEY COULD NOT DELIVER?
[EEE —_

PETER, I SUSPECT, WAS FILLED TO THE. BRIM

Nccprnpncnaticrnaeh,
WITH GUILT AND SELF-DISGUST.
Mi ET RCRNTTACS

So IT 1S PETER WHO SAYS, bain

el Se
GOING FISHING."| TRANSLATE runt. A T'ee

merc

DO SOMETHING I KNOW HOW TO DO. aru GO

—— ——-

16

BACK TO THE LIFE I LEFT, fre
baad

PREDICTABLE, SECURE, LOW-EXPECTATION,
‘rE

EXISTENCE OF A FISHERMAN.

IF YOU HAVE EVER ENJOYED THE at daw ;
Cory WAG Any a“
LUXURY OF A DARIN WALK ON THE BEACH, YOU

KNOW THAT IT ES A PECULIAR TIME, ALMOST
EEE

MYSTICAL. \ THE OCEAN IS OFTEN QUIET IN
oe be | eee

THE EARLY MORNING. | THERE ARE A FEW

TCS a

GuLLs,\ USUALLY A MISTY FOG WHICH MAKES

IF DIFFICULT TO SEE THE HORIZON. \ There
ARE NO COLORS VET; EVERYTHING Ig A SOFT,
-

PALE GRAY.
Ld

A VOICE BREAKS THE SILENCE:

Se

"Boys," THE VOICE savs. | "Laps" -

ee,

IT IS AN INTIMATE ream > "YOU AREN'T
eC

17

CATCHING ANYTHING, ARE YOU? [ra THE

OTHER SIDE." \

"WHO WAS THAT?“ONE ASKED, IN THE

ay

BOAT,\ ANNOYED, STARTLED {Jano ANOTHER ONE
oe fares ene |

ving Wee
warsperED, ("Ir LOOKS LIKE umm!" )

AND NOW PETER, WORKING HARD,
Ces ny
STRIPPED TO THE WAI r,\pzves IN AND
[Eee

SWIMS THE HUNDRED YARDS TO SHORE.
a

THERE IS A CHARCOAL FIRE, AS THERE
eaieevmrrieratieytteces

WAS IN THE COURTYARD. \ HE OFFERS FISH
=e 06UCUC UC ey

AND BREAD. \ THE WRITER WISELY DOES NOT

beeiamennaenee weet

DESCRIBE WHAT THEY SAID AS THEY ATE,
‘ey

a aaa

THEREFORE LEAVING THE IMPRESSION THAT

Cmcmecwcemorig is MERIT

THEY SAID NOTHING -\uusr STOOD THERE
eee Ee

18

Ane moment come
Ye

AROUND THE FIRE, — BREAD; | LOOKING
eres]

DOWN AT THEIR FEET, SHIFTING THEIR
neem

WEIGHT FROM ONE FOOT TO THE OTHER -

fume

WAITING.. \\ AND PETER STANDING THERE

WITH THEM, HAVING AGAIN DONE SOMETHING

BRASH AND IMPETUOUS, \przpprne WET IN THE

CHILL AIR, |SHIVERING_IN SPITE OF HIS

eR

ATTEMPTS TO BE_CALM AND strons.\ AND
<—_— @
FINALLY THEIR EYES MEET AGAIN AND JESUS,

SPEAKING TO HIM, ASKS: \"DO YOU LOVE ME

MORE THAN THESE?"| IT 1s, I THINK, A

GENTLE TEASING. ¢ YOU ACTUALLY LOVE

— ee

ME MORE THAN THESE OTHERS po?” )

Ee

AND PETER, DAMNED BY THE REALITY

OF HIS DENTIAL,| THREE TIMES DOES NOT
t f

19

BOAST) ANY concen. | "You KNOW THAT I[ LOVE

eC

you" |]IS ALL HE CAN THINK TO SAY.
Wiener om

HE DENIED JESUS THREE TIMES;
i ee

ee

FAILED TO LIVE UP TO HIS OWN
i

EXPECTATIONS THREE rimes.\ So THREE
= earn,

TIMES THE QUESTION COMES.

"Do YOU LOVE ME?" \ avo THREE TIMES
NR,

—=__ ee

THE HUMBLE RESPONSE, |"YES_LQRD, YOU KNOW

Po
THAT I LOVE You.” |

AND THREE TIMES, THE CHARGE, THE
encom i j- i.‘ ==aiinum

COMMISSION -
eee

WW “ tT Wl
FEED MY LAMBS. \renw MY SHEEP.

"FEED MY SHEEP,”

ba =n.

20

Peder Ard speak ark av aravely ,

ba te

HE WANTED TO Be. \ wa Me WAS FAITHFUL TO

a ‘eee

THE END. | HE DIED, AS HIS LORD DIED,
weet eer ENERO,

TRADITION HAS IT, CRUCIFIED.

Somme titi‘(<éi‘ié‘«éS TTT
DT

BuT HERE,| IN THE PALE GRAY LIGHT
|

eee

OF DAWN, \A DEVASTATED, | GUELTY._ HUMAN

BEING WHO IS FAMILTAR TO EVERY ONE OF US

=

1S REHABILITATED ‘\ ResroReD A REBORN.

REYNOLDS PRICE ASKS:

"“HoW CAN A RATIONAL LIFE YIELD

TO AN OLD AND PREPOSTEROUS PAMPHLET

21

WHICH ASKS NO LESS THAN A SEISMIC CHANGE
mmr ce

OF MIND AND HEART?" }) AND THEN ANSWERS
al Serrano cece
—
WITH THIS STORY,|"...THE SCENE THAT MOST

_ Oe

DEFEATS MY DOUBTS, Th}ihesneGenRHE
vam vs

[Iprip,, Pp. 65]

Iv IS THE UNMRE HUMANNESS OF

THIS srony| (ve HAVE(ALL BEEN TueRe)( AND
EET, —=

THE MIRACLE OF GRACE AND gewreta.\\ Jesus
——_ ‘Er o_o

(=

DOESN'T CRITICIZE PETER, |DOESN’T EVEN
ry eee

DOESN'T

MENTION HIS MISERABLE BEHAVIOR,

i,
MULTIPLY PETER’S GUILT BY CALLING
bead Sey

L
ATTENTION To THE ogvrous | mustEap Cavs

DEMONSTRATES THE SAVING POWER OF
— —_—

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. | FORGIVENESS,

22

+

acceprance, nestoraTzon, ang THE FIRST

RESULTS OF EASTER.
7

AND THAT, I PROPOSE, IS VERY GOOD

NEWS INDEED, (A Wii Aah Vian “Has, Wor
\etks TAL dives pla me AE fon} Sul wv Sesvhidy

You DON’T HAVE TO LIVE OUT OF YOUR

You DON’T HAVE TO LIVE OUT OF YOUR
Sect

NEAR MISSES OR COLOSSAL FAILURES.

You DON'T HAVE TO GO ON LIVING OUT
Weems

OF YOUR SIN.

Mate

You DON’T HAVE TO LIVE OUT OF THE

ea

SHAME YOU FEEL BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN
re

——_—e-

23

ABLE TO LEVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS
a a ae a

MEE
OTHERS HAVE IMPOSED ON YOU { or YOUR
[aE —

EXPECTATIONS OF YOURSELF.

You ARE LOVED \ FORGIVEN -,

RESTORED AND IF YOU WILL GRASP THIS: \

IF YOU WILL STAND THERE WITH THAT SO
eee re

VERY HUMAN FISHERMAN,|ON THE BEACH IN
Lei Ee

THE EARLY MORNING Laut, \waTH NOTHING TO
eR

OFFER BUT YOUR CRUSHED HOPES FOR

Ld = be
|
voursetr, [your INTENTIONS | eo wm 3? .
s,{ your LOVE, YOU wm the posh
Bers |
WILL BE WELCOMED AND REBORN.
Yan Waa

HoW GOOD IT WOULD BE TO\STOP NOW;

TO END THIS SERMON WITH GRACIOUS
‘Sire yereperreensy spore eT

ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE ALL AROUND, \ To SING

24

"Just As I Am... O Lams oF Gop, I
OC.

COME..." ——% yo VAM AL J Co Not “
cTAL AR Aor .

THE TROUBLE IS THE INCIDENT
ec CI

DOESN'T END HERE.

"Do You LOVE ME?”

WEEE,

"Yes, Lorp.| You KNOW I LOVE YoU."
nd Smee

a
"FEED MY SHEER. -~

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

aera ae

SELF-FULFILLMENT IN THE SECULAR SENSE,

AND WHAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH MEANS BY

SALVATION IS were. \\Jesus Forszves PETER
eRe eres

AND IN THE FORGIVING "ENABLED" PETER TO
fm EEO

25

FORGIVE nrusee | accert HIMSELF, MAYBE

|

EVEN LOVE HIMSELF AGAIN. \ THAT'S WHAT WE

WANT FROM THE THerapzsr. | But THERE IS

ANOTHER DIMENSION WHEN JESUS IS

eee

INVOLVED 'S CALLED FEEDING THE
rs) at ALLE EDING TH

SHEEP.

FRED BUECHNER WROTE ONCE:
tt aeetteen ae einem

"THIS IS WHY WE TRY TO MAKE THE TOMB AS
Ea

SECURE AS WE can. | BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT

HE ALWAYS savs. Feo MY SHEEP... MY
a

Lames." THIS 1S WHAT WE WOULD MAKE
Le

a

OURSELVES SECURE FROM, KNOWING THE
Pn era

TERRIBLE NEERS OF THE LAMBS AND OUR
See

ABUNDANCE ,\ KNOWING OUR OWN TERRIBLE

neeo.” | [THe MaGnrricent Dereat, P. 81]

26

SO THE POINT OF THIS IS NOT SIMPLY
i | ee

FEELING GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES AGAIN IN
baa

SPITE OF FALLING SHORT OF OUR
eccTETCe

seur-exeecrarron. \ Tae POINT OF THIS IS G VL
VA) OA, of
A NEW SEING, CREATED IN THE QA
— — wer”
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF JESUS Currst, \aND ~
rues ,

COMMITTED TO THE TASKS OF FEEDING THE
ee a 7 —

SHEEP.

Com TERRIBLE NEEDS OF THE

LAMBS, "J BUECHNER PUT r1\ You DON’T HAVE

TO LOOK FAR FOR LAMBS THAT NEED FEEDING,

SHELTERING, NURTURING, LOVING. ALL You

Dn al

HAVE TO DG IS LIFT YOUR EYES AND SEE THE
eee “ee

HUMAN BEINGS WHO NEED HELP - LIFT YOUR
eee RENE

EYES TO PICTURES OF MMM CHILDREN

DYING OF DEHYDRATION IN A SEWepREIUD ,

a aa eee

1, Wretclud refogec
COMP im Nene )

Dle Hov i

THE LAMBS OF JESUS IN REROGEE I er

eee ne <a = puvle shu
ENoeewiigume, IN GHETTOES, INsOWie@GieLS, v

S,( IN NURSING

"I. PLENTY
AYS TO DO IT - ‘\, ,
eo Fi ow

TAuvees

/

A PROGRAM said YOUNGSTERS ©

ue < HS
Un:

* A SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS, ~ wor

CLOTHES FOR THE_NAKED, A

/ REFUGE FOR THE_ABUSED, A
———

CENTER FOR THE TROUBLED AND
Sn

ALONE.

THE POINT IS NOT MERELY FEELING

BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES, NOR IS THE POINT
Sree

MERELY ENGAGING IN DOING GOOD AND
pecctweceseavsmicneomaitin, NEEADATI RONAN

SHOWING MERCY THE PQINT IS sor| THE
a8

POINT IS BECOMING A NEW BEING - IN ( van
c hee pr”
HRIST. . e
a Lowi 0
yo cue ‘ ¢
af er b worm
a ov
AND IT BEGINS WHEN,| LIKE PETER, WE

ACKNOWLEDGE OUR NAKEDNESS \ WHEN WE KNOW
Sener; Sa nd

THAT STANDING BEFORE HIM WE HAVE LITTLE

TO COMMEND US.

\ Bu NEVERTHELESS THERE

WE STAND, SHIVERING IN THE COOL, GRAY

—_—

LIGHT OF DAWN.

a

29

AND WHEN, LIKE PETER, WE KNOW THAT

en

HE ACCEPTS US, FORGIVES US, WELCOMES
ae EEE nL

us...

ee

AND WHEN, LIKE PETER,\ WE CONNECT

———, Ley a aad

THAT MIRACLE _OF LOVE AND GRACE WITH THE

—_——_ee

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIVING FOR

OTHERS WHICH IS ALWAYS, LIVING FOR
ae")

[email

HIM.
—Eeeee

THAT'S WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS - THE

LOVE OF Jesus, [ano TAKING CARE OF THE
—— ee _

LAMBS.

"Do You LOVE ME?”
[oa

30

( “Lore, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, YOU

KNOW WE LOVE vou. \
veel .

"Feep MY SHEEP."

It's AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
Ee

AMEN.

31