By John Cole

D: "Feed my Sheep"

At the beginning of the Decade of Evangelism, the same diocesan committee in Lincolnshire spent time in prayer to discover what Biblical language seemed most appropriate for the forthcoming Decade.

It was something of a surprise when several people highlighted the conversation between the risen Jesus and St Peter in John 21 - with its insistent message: "Feed my Sheep."

We realised that it had echoes of the 'feeding' that Jesus had been doing practically throughout his ministry.

The conversation itself took place at the lakeside after a miraculous catch of fish and Jesus himself had invited them to breakfast.

But the whole scene had echoes of an occasion in the desert when thousands who had been attracted to hear Jesus's teaching could not be sent home hungry - and a little boy's packed lunch proved to be more than sufficient for the task.

And both the breakfast on the beach and the feeding of the five thousand - as told in St John's Gospel - have clear allusions to the 'eucharistic' action - that dynamic sacramental inter-action of grace and gratitude which we now experience as 'Holy Communion'.

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