EPIPHANY 5

                        February 7, 2010

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

(Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Ps. 19; I Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21)

STOP RESISTING GOD

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC


 

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

 

    Last week’s snow storm reminded me why my Baptist colleagues have an advantage over me. I had written my sermon on Monday – the real reason it snowed. My Baptist friends simply shoved the readings forward a week and kept the sermon. Since we have a lectionary I have to use these new lessons and start all over!

 

    Oh well. .... While snowed in Shirley and I watched a movie. As we watched I followed my normal pattern of paying attention behind the main action. I tend to watch, not just the supporting actors but the extras, the scenery, and the lighting. From that I get an idea of the message the director was trying to send.

 

    Look at the gospel lesson so we can examine the context ... what is behind the main story. What message was the director, God, sending with the details?

 

    First the basic scenery. It appears Jesus was not specifically planning a teaching mission right then. Maybe He was but it sounds more spontaneous – more part of every day life. Jesus can reach us anytime.

 

    The crowd seems to be people who have heard of Jesus, or heard Jesus and want to hear more. Remember – no cars, no buses, no paid days off, no fast food restaurants. So following behind this teacher is a major commitment. That’s one of the points we could easily miss if we see this scene like a concert at the coliseum which we drove up to see after eating barbecue at Stamey’s! These people sacrificed to hear Jesus.

 

    And those fishermen on the shore ... unless we are commercial fishermen we miss the implications of them cleaning their nets. As they said, they caught nothing so have nothing to take to market. It is later clarified that this is early morning since they “fished all night” and have not gone home yet. Picture this scene – fishermen just doing their job, very practical, very normal ... when this crowd comes up with somebody speaking to them. The director is trying to show us Jesus intruding into everyday life.

 

    We cannot be sure if this is the first time Simon met Jesus but it sounds as if it is. In Matthew when Jesus walks by and says to Simon “follow me”, Simon just gets up and follows Him. That makes me think Simon already knew Jesus and today’s gospel may have been that introduction.

 

    It does appear that Simon was just going along – maybe out of curiosity. I can imagine the other fishermen laughing and pointing at Simon being conned into providing free use of his boat.

 

    We don’t know what Jesus taught – always frustrating! I wish Jesus was recorded! But we can again make some guesses. My suspicion is that Jesus spoke more about God’s love and less about human responsibilities. Jesus spoke about how much God loved them and did not focus on “you should tithe” or something like that. I say that because Jesus impacted Simon in a very powerful way. Assuming, as I do, that this is the first time Simon heard Jesus then to have Simon go along with Jesus’ instructions to try fishing again suggests Simon has been very powerfully affected.

 

    The fish catch has at several levels of meaning. At the simplest level – but still extremely important – is the teaching that if we do what God wants things will turn out better.

 

    The second level is the whole “fish for people” – that these men, and us, are called to reach out to other people and help them learn about God.

 

    The third level concerns the sea. For Jews the sea is the source of evil. Remember in the creation one of the first things God did was to separate the water from the land ... to protect the people from the evil water. Read Revelation again and notice how evil comes out of the sea. You will find some Jewish fishermen but very few Jewish sailors in those days. So at a deep level some of the symbolism is about how when we fish ... when we reach out to people in areas we are not comfortable, the reward will be great. That said, notice again how our director shows it all happening as part of normal, every day life.

 

    Finally, remember the crowd was away from home, probably did not bring anything and all of a sudden there is enough fish to feed them all! A sense of God providing for them.

 

    Now flip back to the Old Testament and notice the parallels. Like Simon Peter, Isaiah told God to go away! Leave him alone because he was not worthy – not capable. And like in the gospel God just ignores those comments, provides what is needed, and sends the person on to do the ministry. ..... Next time you are saying to God: “I am not capable” as an excuse to avoid doing something for God — watch out! You might see an angel with a burning coal coming at you!

 

    That’s because one of the key ministries God gives us to help people get to know God’s love for them. Of course step one is to acknowledge God’s love for YOU ! Once we begin to sense God’s love for us ... not fully know and appreciate because God loves us so much more than we could ever know !! But once we begin the process we can share the little bit we know ... and that’s all we are told to do. Share the little bit we know.

 

    Now flip to 1st Corinthians. The background or content we easily miss is that this was written many years before the Gospels. This is the first record we have of Jesus’ resurrection. So apparently His resurrection was a well known fact because Paul just brushes over it to set up what we wants to teach. Much as I just mentioned last week’s snow storm without having to explain because I know you know what I meant .... Paul knew that everyone knew about Jesus.

 

    That provides possibly the best proof that all of this is true ... Paul writes that Jesus appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters most of whom are still alive. In other words Paul tells them there are people who are willing to speak about Jesus ... tell us about God’s love. My point on proof is that you KNOW the skeptics immediately said to Paul “tell me their names”. Paul might have tried to bluff with just the apostles but 500 people? Not a chance!

 

    The background message the stories’ director, God, wants us to hear in Isaiah, Simon Peter and Paul is best expressed in Isaiah. God is wondering who will do what needs to be done. .... Next time you wonder why there is evil in the world. Why people die unnecessarily. Why there are homeless families ... go back and read this passage. I don’t believe it is that God CANNOT do it, but rather God has chosen for us to do it. And God asks “who will do it?” ... “who can I send, who will go for us?”

 

    Isaiah gets caught up in the emotion of the moment. If Isaiah had any sense he would have slipped away, behind a pillar and let God look around some more! Only a fool volunteers and Isaiah says “here I am Lord, send me”. The worst part for Isaiah is that God took him up on his offer!

 

    That’s why I call “Here I am Lord” the most dangerous song in the entire universe!! Because God will take you at your word! God will ... in fact, God has sent each of us out. However most of us have managed to hide rather than doing our assignment. ... ouch ... true?

 

    And be careful .. notice what happens to Simon. First he is simply asked to allow the use of us boat, then to catch some fish ... before you know it he is being hunted by the Romans! God will provide us with the opportunities, then increase our opportunities as we grow in spirit.

 

    But again notice that Simon, Isaiah and the people Paul spoke about were all serving God within their every day lives. They were not running off to some far, unknown country – but serving God in their homes and neighborhoods.

 

    They discovered how they could serve God, but also discovered over time it would not be easy. They discovered it is the path to life with meaning and purpose which leads to a level of satisfaction they had never before imagined ...but not always easy.

 

    So why would anyone NOT move in that direction? Why would anyone NOT seek a life of meaning, purpose and satisfaction – even if it is not easy?

 

    Let me call your attention to a phrase in our opening prayer .. our opening collect. A phrase we use frequently but seldom discuss: the bondage of our sins.

    Maybe we would understand it better if we said something like: being limited or controlled by our sins. If this is discussed it usually is about some addiction ... which is not a bad image but it limits the meaning too much.

 

    Our sins which bind us can be many other things than addictions. In fact, for most of us our primary sins are more likely to be laziness, or complacency, or fear. And although laziness can be a major issue sometimes I suspect complacency and fear are much more important.

 

    We can become complacent about our lives. “I’m not doing too bad so why change?” ... There is no crisis in our lives so why change? ... I think that is why less blessed people tend to have greater spiritual depth. Jesus said “blessed are the poor” because the poor understand the need to change. They understand what is missing in their lives whereas we are well fed, clothed, housed and don’t notice the spiritual losses.

 

    And sometimes fear intensifies the complacency. If I am doing “OK” — maybe not even great, maybe not even what I want but I am afraid a chance could make things even worse, then I am not likely to make the change. Having the incentive, and the courage to change our lives ... to focus more on God can be a major challenge.

 

    Peter was brought along slowly. Paul was knocked off his horse! Isaiah had his mouth purified by a burning coal. .... God will work to change us in the way we need rather than the way we want. All we have to do is stop resisting.

 

    “But I am not resisting!” – is the thought going through many heads right now. MAYBE. Ask yourself: Am I living the life God wants me to? Am I doing all that God wants? Do I have a life full of meaning, purpose and satisfaction? If not, I submit we must be resisting God’s call to send us.

    

 

               AMEN

 

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CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation. (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to: ken@st-christopher.com)