Ka Ipu o Lono shares weekly devotionals to provide spiritual enrichment to members of the Kamehameha Schools ‘ohana. For more inspiration, visit the KS “Our faith” website.
Heluhelu Baibala
ʻĪ maila ʻo ia iā lākou, E kuʻu aku i ka
ʻupena ma ka ʻaoʻao ʻākau o ka moku, a
e loaʻa iā ʻoukou. No ia mea, kuʻu ihola
lākou, ʻaʻole i hiki iā lākou ke huki mai
ia i ka nui loa o nā iʻa. - Ioane 21:6 | | He 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. - John 21:6 |
He manaʻo o ke kahu
When I was in college, I went with a bunch of friends lay-net fishing at night at Wailupe Beach Park in ʻĀina Haina. I had no idea what I was supposed to do but with the help of my friends (between their chuckles at my ineptness), we laid a net across a span of water. Once that was in place, we formed a line and began to pākuʻikuʻi, beat the water, to drive the iʻa towards the net. I was totally surprised when we gathered up the net and tried to bring it in. It was SUPA heavy. We were finally able to bring it ashore and we counted 40 good-sized kala. We ended up giving them to anyone we could, folks hanging out in the parking lot, the crew emptying out the trash cans, or those just driving by. We were blessed and had a chance to bless others.
This reminded me of when Iesū spent time with the disciples after his resurrection. He had appeared to them a few days earlier, showing them the nail holes in his hands and feet, giving them hope in the Risen One. Yet, instead of getting recharged and anxious to get back to the work of serving others, they decided to go fishing. Instead of keeping the fire going in the work they had been doing the last three years, they went back to something they were used to, something familiar, to their jobs as lawaiʻa before they met Iesū. Despite all that experience, they didn’t catch a thing. So Iesū, calls out to them from the shore, telling them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. And when they did, their nets came up full of iʻa, too heavy to pull into the boat.
We are called to live a life of service, but who do we serve? Do we serve ourselves by doing the things that bring meaning to just us? Those things that are comfortable to us and cause the least amount of stress? Maybe we do what we do because these are things that we can control. If we live our lives to serve others, it will take us out of our comfort zone into the faith zone, to do the things that we have no control over. As we live our lives of service to others, it means that we put our faith that the one who knows what’s going on. And when we give in and let ke Akua take control, we’re going to need a bigger boat, for ke Akua will provide the result, if we provide the labor. Commit your work this week to ke Akua. Listen for his voice that will guide you and direct you. Put your trust in the Holy One knowing that he will never steer you wrong.
This past week, Nā Kahu shared the passage (John 21:1-14) from where this verse comes from with members of the Tri-Campus deputation teams. They were asked, “What part of the story speaks to you?” Use their selections as your points to ponder this week.
Points to Ponder:
- Siera: Just doing the same thing may not be the right thing. The disciples returned to fishing and did things the same old way. Iesū told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat and they had an abundance of fish. Open your maka to a new way that ke Akua is trying to show you this week.
- Kaila and Nāhulu: When the disciples saw the fully laden nets, John suddenly realized that it was Iesū on the shore. He told Peter and Peter immediately jumped into the water and swam to him. When Iesū does something for us, know that its him. Jump in without hesitation and go to him. Stop having doubt. Spend some time learning to recognize the voice of Iesū calling to you and respond immediately.
- Onipaʻa: When the rest of the disciples reached shore with their catch, Iesū had food ready. Iesū is always ready for you, always prepared. He is with us in the moment. Be like that for others. Who can we serve this week?
- Ioane: When the disciples reached the shore and were sitting down to eat, no one asked who this stranger was. They knew. We know in our heart when ke Akua is in our midst. Remember to recognize his fingerprint and take it with gratitude, and respect it more. Pause to mahalo ke Akua for his faithfulness of presence.
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