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The 3rd Sunday in Epiphany
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| Loving God, you call us to come and follow, and capture us with your love. Make us ready to hear and to respond to your word by the power of your Spirit, that we, too, might be citizens of your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
If you happen to be a fish, you don't really want to get caught. In fact, getting caught is quite frowned upon - especially if you get taken in, hook, line and sinker. No - if you're a fish, you're probably quite comfortable right where you are, as long as there is food to be found.
So, why, then, would Jesus send out his disciples in order to fish for people? Why waste all of that effort on people who really don't want to be caught? Really, isn't that the way it is with so many people? There is a certain comfort level in not being caught by Jesus. That way, my only concern is whether I have what I need. I don't need to concern myself with what other people have (except if it's something that I want). I don't need to worry about giving of myself or about service to others or about living in God's way. I don't need to worry about putting myself out in order to worship with others or learn with others or serve with others. If I have avoided being caught by Jesus, then I only need to be concerned about myself and what I want and need.
On the other hand, if we do get caught by Jesus, look out! Our whole lives will change and our whole way of thinking. Our hearts will be opened up by God's love and by the presence of God's Holy Spirit. We will no longer be able to think only about ourselves. We will be aware of the great love that God has shown for us in Jesus and of the need for that love to flow out of us back to God and to the people around us. We will be aware of the spiritual world that surrounds us and of the hopelessness that comes with being separated from God and cut off from God's life-giving presence. We will be aware of the needs of others and will be drawn to minister to them as if they are Jesus himself. We will be aware of the way of life that God wants for us and will want to live in that way in order to give glory to God and service to others.
Why would Jesus send his disciples out to fish for people who don't want to be caught? The answer is quite simple: Out of love. Jesus knows that those people could have life in all its fulness. Jesus knows that those people have only death and judgment to look forward to without him. Jesus knows that what often passes for life in this world isn't really life at all, but a self-centered existence lived without any awareness of the love and the power of God. And so Jesus calls disciples and sends them out in order to fish for people.
In fact, did you notice Jesus' slick marketing technique? He didn't promise to give them anything. He started out by telling them to repent, because heaven rules. And then he simply said, "Follow me" - I've got a job for you (Mt. 4:19). One commentator asks the question as to how people do become disciples of Jesus Christ. He answers based on today's gospel: "People become believers by the power of Jesus' word; they follow him because he has spoken to them, and his word generates faith" (Eugene Boring, Matthew, New Interpreter's Bible, p. 170). So it would seem that fishing for people involves helping people to hear Jesus' word.
As for possible techniques, we could drag people to church, just like with a fish net, but it's hard to say how much of Jesus' word would be heard by people who are here against their will. Of course, there is the dangling of bait on fish hooks, but once again it's hard to say if Jesus' word would get through if somebody came expecting to be entertained and found a worship service instead. Now, in some cases, people might first hear Jesus' word through the Scriptures, and so making sure that people have access to the Bible might help. In other cases, people might be drawn to ask about the word of Jesus because they have seen something in the life of a believer that makes them think there must be more to life. In still other cases, people might accept the invitation of a friend or neighbour to come and see, and might hear Jesus' word in a worship setting, or at Alpha, or at Bible study.
However it might happen, we, too, are called to follow Jesus, and to hear his word for us, and to help others to hear that same word. Now, at the same time it is true that God could have used an entirely different technique. After all, the disciples witnessed with Jesus how he had power over the fish and could make them come right into the net (Lk. 5:4-9)! If God really wanted to, he could just make all the fish jump right into the boat (which, by the way, has always been a symbol for the church...). However, instead, God uses us.
There is a story by Martin Bell called "Rag-Tag Army" which helps in imagining how God could make it much more organized. It goes like this:
| "I think God must be very old and very tired. Maybe he used to look splendid and fine in his general's uniform, but no more. He's been on the march a long time, you know. And look at his rag-tag little army! All he has for soldiers are you and me. Dumb little army. Listen! The drum beat isn't even regular. Everyone is out of step. And there! You see? God keeps stopping along the way to pick up one of his tinier soldiers who decided to wander off and play with a frog, or run in a field, or whose foot got tangled in the underbrush. He'll never get anywhere that way. And yet, the march goes on.
Do you see how the marchers have broken up into little groups? Look at that group up near the front. Now, there's a snappy outfit. They all look pretty much alike-at least they're in step with each other. That's something! Only they're not wearing their shoes. They're carrying them in their hands. Silly little band. They won't get far before God will have to stop again Or how about that other group over there? They're all holding hands as they march. The only trouble with this is the men on each end of the line. Pretty soon they realize that one of their hands isn't holding onto anything-one hand is reaching, empty, alone. And so they hold hands with each other, and everybody marches around in circles. The more people holding hands, the bigger the circle. And, of course, a bigger circle is deceptive because as we march along it looks like we're going someplace, but we're not. And so God must stop again. You see what I mean? He'll never get anywhere that way! If God were more sensible he'd take his little army and shape them up. Why, whoever heard of a soldier stopping to romp in a field? It's ridiculous. But even more absurd is a general who will stop the march of eternity to go and bring him back. But that's God for you. His is no endless, empty marching. He is going somewhere. His steps are deliberate and purposive. He may be old, and he may be tired. But he knows where he's going. And he means to take every last one of his tiny soldiers with him. Only there aren't going to be any forced marches. And, after all, there are frogs and flowers, and thorns and underbrush along the way. And even though our foreheads have been signed with the sign of the cross, we are only human. And most of us are afraid and lonely and would like to hold hands or cry or run away. And we don't know where we are going, and we can't seem to trust God-especially when it's dark out and we can't see him! And he won't go on without us. And that's why it's taking so long. Listen! The drum beat isn't even regular. Everyone is out of step. And there! You see? God keeps stopping along the way to pick up one of his tinier soldiers who decided to wander off and play with a frog, or run in a field, or whose foot got tangled in the underbrush. He'll never get anywhere that way! And yet, the march goes on...." (Martin Bell, The Way of the Wolf, pp. 89-91) |
God doesn't use forced marches. God doesn't even use the master fish finder to bring them all in himself. God uses us. Why? - Because God wants us to respond out of love. God wants us to come to him of our own free will, choosing to follow him because he has first chosen us. God wants us to encounter the love of Jesus Christ and to be changed by that encounter - ready to live a new life that will give glory to the one who has first given his life for us. Yes - God could be far more efficient - but then all of us would have been dispensed with a long time ago. I, for one, am grateful that God has decided instead to go fishing and is patient enough to work within me and through me by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we continue to see the power of the Holy Spirit at work among us as we work at the fishing together. Amen.
Epiphany 3(A) Matthew 4:12-23 January 23, 2005 St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore
? 2005 Lynn Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved