Restoring work

Susan Haynes | John 21:1-14 | Isaiah 65:17-25 

Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ‘I'm going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We'll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing... [Jesus] said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
    or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
    so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.
They will not labour in vain,
    nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
    they and their descendants with them.

Once again Jesus appears to his disciples after the Resurrection, and this time he turns up at their workplace. Does "secular" work - or related activity such as studying or volunteering - have any value in God's kingdom? Susan Haynes explains what we can learn from this encounter and how work fits in with God's purposes.

The recording begins with the readings from Kate Routley.

An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube. The song Susan refers to at the end of her talk is also available to hear online.