5 Epiphany/Year C Sermon/February 9, 2025
Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11
Opening Prayer: Loving God, you have called forth disciples and prophets to live and speak your word. Give us ears to hear, lives to respond, and voices to proclaim the good news of salvation, which we know in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Textweek.com)
This is one of those Sundays, when the gospel reading we heard today comes up on the lectionary cycle, when I feel a bit like a “fish out of water”. As I’ve looked out at most of you sitting in the pews throughout my relatively short years here in Sitka, and have had the opportunity to listen and learn more about your way of life here that relies on our natural resources from the sea and the land to feed your families, and others who rely on your labors in the fishing industry…I can’t help but feel grateful and thankful. Many of you have spent long days, long nights, long weeks and months, fishing year after year, to provide for your family, and for those of us who are the recipients of the fruits of your labors and I think to myself – I am unworthy to even begin to unpack today’s Gospel reading from the perspective of the fisherman, most especially from Simon’s perspective in today’s story.
But, from that place of feeling unworthiness, what I can do, is share my perspective, and my wonderings, as a fellow sojourner in this world, as someone who is in the “boat”, with you...striving to make sense of this sometimes, difficult and confusing and wonderful world, we find ourselves in…and as someone who is striving to discern how I can use my particular gifts to work and live with others, in such a way that contributes to the well-being of all God’s beloved children.
That’s all any of us are called to do…to share our own authentic faith story, with one another…from the place in our hearts, from where we believe we have heard God’s voice and his call to us – that voice that speaks to each of us – wherever we are – calling our attention for a moment – even in a fearful moment – most often in a fearful moment – to stop – listen – listen to the words of Jesus – Do not be afraid…
Each of our readings today, include a “call” message. Isaiah’s call, Paul’s testimony on his call, and then Simon (and James and John’s) call…each one of them, were called in the midst of where they were, each one of them, perhaps taken by surprise…each one of them, perhaps, experienced a moment of fear, unbelief, or unworthiness… but when they said, yes with their hearts, when they opened up their eyes, ears and hearts, to the miracle and mystery of the saving grace of God’s love they were witness to, in that moment…something changed in them, something transformed them, even if it was just a small flicker of light that momentarily gave them the courage…to boldly take a step forward, leaving everything behind: the worries, the fears, the weariness, the feelings of unworthiness…all left behind…to answer God’s call to them… believing that God had chosen them for something greater than what they had yet to imagine…
In today’s gospel reading, this is the good news I’m hearing today:
There were people eager to hear some good news…not just any good news…but the good news that Jesus had been teaching everywhere he went… the Word of God’s love and faithfulness for his people…a love that has the power to free people from the bondage of sin and suffering, calling them instead…to believe in a hopeful, flourishing, abundant life, as revealed to us in Jesus’ teachings and miracles…time and time again…
Jesus got into the boat, belonging to Simon…and asked him to put out a little way from the shore…and from there Jesus spoke to the crowds who were gathered to hear the life-giving Word of God…
I like to believe that Jesus chose Simon’s boat that day…knowing that He and his partners James and John had worked all night long fishing and had caught nothing. I believe he knew just how tired they were, that they had toiled and worked themselves to the bone, all night….but still had to clean up everything afterwards, they still had to get everything set for the next day, they still had to summon up the strength to work tomorrow, the next day, and the next…wondering and worrying whether there will be any fish tomorrow…they were exhausted, perhaps discouraged…perhaps feeling depleted and empty…
I believe Jesus chose Simon’s boat that day….because sometimes we don’t know that we need to hear the good news of God’s love for us…
But Jesus does…and it is precisely in those moments of exhaustion, weariness, discouragement, and unworthiness, that through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, God’s voice does call out to us…and reveals a new way forward…a way forward that invites us to follow Jesus, in walking the Way of love…paying attention to the miracles that are possible and unfolding right before our eyes…right in the midst of the most difficult times in our lives…
So, yes…Jesus was speaking to the crowds, but he was most certainly speaking to Simon, too...intentionally choosing him that day, to assure him…that God’s love and faithfulness is with him, for all of his days…
Simon and the others were amazed, perhaps stunned, perhaps unbelieving, perhaps fearful, scared to death, of the abundance of fish that were caught in their nets, when they responded to Jesus’ words, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
But, it was precisely in the midst of those mixed emotions, and trusting enough to go where Jesus was asking them to go, that Jesus’ words and actions became the healing balm that soothed their souls, softened their hearts, and allowed for the Holy Spirit to revive their souls once again…
Jesus assured Simon (and the others who heard him say), “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching people.” (meaning…You will be the one, who can help lift someone out of hunger and despair, and give them hope…You will be the one who goes on to invite the weary person, to come and sit awhile with you, and to assure them that they are seen, heard, and loved.)
In response to this encounter with Jesus, they accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow him …they left everything and decided to follow Jesus.
They decided to follow Jesus, because they now experienced for themselves and had come to believe and trust that indeed Jesus is the One they had been waiting for…there was something compelling in their encounter with Jesus…that affirmed in their being…that the life-giving Word of God’s love, that Jesus proclaimed, were words of hope that they needed to hear and that others long to hear, too…It is this love, that has the power to reconcile us to God, one another, and all of creation.
In a world that is currently experiencing great division, and fear and weariness…we ourselves, are all being called now, we are being chosen by God, in this time and in this place…wherever we are, whomever we are… to share the healing balm of Jesus Christ…so that others know, and we ourselves know…that deep down, we are not so different after-all… we all have fears, struggles, sorrows, heartaches…we all yearn to laugh and experience joys…we all share many of the same desires and dreams and hopes for ourselves and our loved ones…
It is our turn now…to share our own authentic faith story, with one another…from the place in our hearts, from where we have heard God’s voice and his call to us – that voice that speaks to each of us – wherever we are – calling our attention for a moment – even in a fearful moment – most often in a fearful moment – to stop – listen – listen to the words of Jesus – Do not be afraid…stop – listen to the heart-cries and hopes of our neighbors…and share the good news of God’s healing balm…
This is what I take away from the gospel story today….
What about you? You, the tired fisherfolk, you, the weary parent, you, the worried soul, you, who can’t see the end of our troubled times, you, who is tired from the long journey of grief…
What good news, from your perspective, did you hear today? And with whom will you share it this week?
Prayer/Hymn: Lift Every Voice and Sing II - #203 There is a Balm in Gilead
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
1 Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain,
But then the holy spirit, Revives my soul again.
Refrain
2 If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, and say He died for all.
Refrain
3 Don’t ever be discouraged, for Jesus is your friend,
And if you lack for knowledge, he’ll ne’er refuse to lend.
Refrain