This week's sermon

Epiphany 5,2022

        Jesus was by the lake of Gennesaret teaching and the crowds were so close to him, he asked some fishermen to lend him a boat.

        He went a little off shore and sat down (as Jewish teachers did, instead of standing up like I do) and taught the crowds.

        When he was finished, he said to Simon, push off and let down your nets.

        Simon told him they had fished all night and caught nothing, “yet if you say so, I will let down my nets.”

        The catch was so great it was breaking the nets, so the other boat came out to help. They filled both boats with fish and when they came ashore, Simon knelt down to Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

        They were all amazed at the greatest fish catch of their lives.

        But Jesus told Simon and John and James, “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching people.”

        So, they left their boats and followed him.

        Imagine that—fishermen with the greatest catch of their lives, leaving the fish and their boats and their livelihood and following this strange teacher!

        Amazing!

        And yet Luke tells us that is what happened.

        And, believe it or not, that is Jesus’ call to us.

        In most cases, it is not a call to ‘leave everything behind’—I don’t see any candidates to be Francis of Assisi here!

        But is a call to realize in our own lives “what’s important to God.” And what is important to God in following Jesus is to be ‘saving people’.

        There are lots of ways to be doing that for each of us. Buying a coat and socks and clothes for a homeless person.

        Giving food and money to the food bank.

        You do that already.

        But there is more to do.

        Listen to the last verse of today’s Psalm: “The Lord will make good his purpose for me;/ O Lord, your love endures forever;/ do not abandon the works of your hands.”

        We can speak up against racial injustice.

        We can take a stand for equal housing.

        We can oppose all forms of discrimination.

        We can seek to make the world a better place for all of God’s children.

        We can give of our time and talents and fortunes for all good causes.

        We can heed Jesus’ call and do all in our power to save and protect the men and women and children of our world.

        We can, in our daily lives, help God’s love to endure forever. God, help us BE your Love.

        Amen and amen.