Whenever we talk about walking down memory lane, we talk about recalling the good old times and getting that warm nostalgic feeling.
We talk about how things used to be when life was simpler and slower. Whether it was better or not, that’s quite difficult to say. But life was certainly simpler and slower.
Depending on whether you are the “pioneer” or the “merdeka” generation, or the millennial or strawberry generation, you may have differing views on the past and the present.
A story has it that a youngster asked his grandfather: Grandpa, how did you people live before without technology, no airplanes, no internet, no computers, no air con, no cars, no mobile phones?
Grandpa replied: It’s just like how your generation live today: no prayers, no compassion, no honour, no respect, no character, no shame.
This must really be just a joke, because to say that to the youngsters, a war will start.
But whatever the present situation is, it would be nice to recall and reminisce about the times past and the days gone by, and to see things then and now.
In the gospel, we hear of a group of rather aimless and directionless disciples who still seem to be spiritually asleep, even though the Risen Lord Jesus had appeared to them twice.
In that dull state , Simon Peter wanted to go fishing and the rest followed. Maybe with nothing much to do, they just want to go back to the past.
And especially for Simon Peter, he wanted to go back to his former trade as a fisherman, and to think about how it was before and how life has changed.
But it was like a “déjà vu” for him, with so many things that brought back memories of the past.
First, was the night of futile fishing, when once upon a time he too worked hard all night and caught nothing.
Then at the stranger’s prompting, there was a miraculous catch of fish and he remembered that first encounter with Jesus and the mission of being “fishers of men”.
And then that charcoal fire certainly brought back vivid memories. It was not that long ago and over another charcoal fire that Peter denied knowing Jesus, not once but three times.
So it was on that shore of the Sea of Tiberius that many memories came alive for Peter, and for the other disciples too.
And there at the centre of those memories is none other than the Risen Lord Jesus Himself.
And with the past coming alive in the present, Jesus put the question to Peter: Do you love me? It is not a question about the past, but more for the present as well as for the future.
It is a question not just for Peter to answer, it is also a question for us to answer.
And before we answer with “Yes, Lord, you know I love you”, let us recall a bit about the past, especially when our love for Jesus was put to the test and how we have responded to the challenge.
No matter how we have responded in the past, there will always be troubled times and the trials of life.
But whether in troubled times or in times of trials, let us have a faith direction and may these four words help us in our direction. The four words are: First, Next, Then, Last.
First – It is God who has brought me to this situation. The will of God will never take me to where the grace of God will not protect me. In that I will be at peace.
Next – God will keep me in His love to behave as His child in this trial. God will never give us more than we can take. He will let us bend, but He will never let us break.
Then – He will turn the trial into a blessing and teach me lessons that He wants me to learn. God doesn’t just want us to go through it. He wants us to grow through it.
Last – In God’s good time, He will bring me out of it and let me rise and shine. Then we will realise that in order for the light to shine brightly, the darkness must be present.
So just four words to give us a direction so as to make a decision – First, Next, Then, Last
We pray that like Peter, we will also say decisively: Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.
So whether in troubled times or in times of trial, may we know that it’s all God’s time.
And so with each time, may it always be: Yes, Lord, You know I love You.