Sermon on the Third Sunday after Epiphany: How do we become fishers of people?
Today’s scriptures offer mixed messages. As so often with scripture, what we take away from the Bible depends on how we read and understand its context.
First we have the success of Jonah in converting Nineveh. That is, of course, only part of his story. Much more famous is Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. That happened because Jonah did not want to try and convert Nineveh, even at God’s clear command.
BUT when he finally took up the task, he had unexpected success. The end of the story, is that Jonah was so upset at Nineveh’s quick conversion, that he left the city in a huff and pouted. When the tree that gave him shade died, Jonah got so angry, Jonah told God that he himself was “angry enough to die!” So we have two mixed messages in this fairy tale: if we don’t do what God tells us, we may suffer; if we do what God tells us, we may be unhappy with our own success.
Second, we have Paul’s letter to the Corinthians which says pretty clearly that the world was going to end soon. So, everyday life of marriage, mourning, rejoicing, possessing, and dealing would soon be meaningless.
BUT we know that that the world didn’t end. Indeed, the world continued on pretty much has it had and is still doing so. Well, I might say that the planet earth does seem to be having more and more trouble surviving all that humans are doing to it. The mixed message, however, is we should get ready for the end times when life will be completely different, yet they still haven’t happened.
Third, we have another version in another gospel than last week about Jesus calling apostles. And this passage includes the famous words “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.”
BUT as I mentioned last week, while they did follow Jesus, they continued to fish as well, as other stories in the gospel attest.
Where does that leave us? I’d say we take many ideas of prophecy and prediction in the Bible with a huge grain of salt. We should not worry about mixed messages, but focus on the main message. Essential is this proclamation: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
In other words: “Right now, we can be with God, if only we turn away from our sins and believe that Jesus has saved us.”
Now. This moment. Not some time in the future. We need not worry because we are saved. And we are also to act on changing our life of sin. We are to help heal the sick, the feed and shelter poor, comfort the prisoner, provide for the widow and orphan, and welcome the foreigner. We are to seek peace and nurture kindness. Doing these things is following the command of God, even when we are uncomfortable with them. Taking these actions is following Christ and fishing for people. Then we become citizens of the kingdom of God. There is nothing mixed about that message.
Written for the parish of St. James & St. George 2021 January 24
URL: <http://therev.brianpavlac.org/srms/20210124.html