In today’s sermon, Gabrielle focuses on the story of the Risen Christ’s appearance to the disciples after they had resumed their “old lives” as fishermen. The story can be found at John 21:1-19.

Gabrielle gently guides the congregation through a personal reflection on several aspects of the story. What part of us is longing to return to our “old lives” in the midst of this pandemic? What part of us is resisting being alive in the present — either focussed guiltily on the past, or worrying about the future?

In Gabrielle’s retelling of the story, as she gradually narrows in on Peter, we see the invitation to meet the Risen Christ is an invitation to be fully alive in the present, right now, open to God’s surprising presence.