Sermon for Epiphany 3A – RCL
When Jesus heard that John had been
arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in
Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what
had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Land of Zebulun,
land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—have seen a great light,light has dawned.”
the people who sat
in darkness
and for those who
sat in the region and shadow of death
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw
two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net
into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I
will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed
him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and
his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets,
and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed
him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every
disease and every sickness among the people.
For such a short
passage from the Gospel of Matthew there is a lot going on! Jesus has heard about his cousin’s arrest and
leaves the population center of Nazareth and heads to the Sea of Galilee – where
a whole lot of ministry will be going on.
Jesus picks up John’s call for all to “Repent, for the reign of heaven
has come near”. Followed by the calling
of his first disciples. Two sets of
brothers.
The geography in
the story is important. Matthew says
Jesus is going to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali – places that do not exist
now and did not really exist in Jesus time.
Jesus is going to the Promised Land.
Jesus is going to where two of the tribes of Israel settled and that has
been the site of multiple occupations.
In Jesus’ time it was the Roman’s occupying the land. Before that the Assyrians, Babylonians,
Greeks – and many more have occupied this land.
So into this land of multiple occupations Jesus declares that the Reign
of God is come close. That in the most
unlikely of places God’s love is trying to break through the darkness. Matthew makes it clear that Jesus is the
fulfillment of the promise of the prophet Isaiah. Matthew makes it clear that God is doing
great things in the most unlikely places.
In a backwater of the Roman Empire Jesus is lighting a fire that will
dispel the darkness. And that light is
still working to dispel the darkness.
This week saw the
inauguration of Donald Trump as president.
Looking at the popular vote one can see that the nations is deeply
divided with about half the voting population voting for each of the two
candidates. So for some Friday was a
time of rejoicing. But for others the
rhetoric of deportation, walls, and reversals strikes fear.
There was also
much debate in social media on how a church that claims she wants to be
prophetic and show the light of Jesus in this land, and affirm the dignity of
all people as children of God, should behave.
One thread I followed asked if we should pray for the President by name
or just the office. I for one land on
the side of praying for the president by name – whether I agree with the
current holder of the office or not. My
prayer – for all those in authority – is that the Holy Spirit will open their
eyes to the suffering around them and lead them to take actions that will
affirm the dignity of all of God’s children.
That is my prayer for both democratic and republican leaders alike.
Yesterday many
people in many locations gathered for the Women’s march. A march to affirm the dignity of all
people. I know many who marched – in
many locations – including my husband and many clergy. Actions that affirm the dignity of people are
subversive. And I believe that we as a
church are called to take action to affirm the dignity of all people. I – partially because I needed the time to
write this sermon – choose to go to St. Paul’s, which is only several blocks
from the capitol, and open her up for anyone who wanted to stop in for prayer
and meditation. Because for some
marching might be too much and for some marching could induce a need for
prayer.
Jesus’s call that the reign of God is drawing near is a
call that we are called to practice. We –
each and every one of us are called.
Called to shine a light. Jesus
called two sets of brothers to shine lights into the hearts of people. Jesus calls his disciples away from fishing
for fish to be fishers of people. Jesus
called ordinary people – and dare I say fairly low on the socioeconomic ladder,
to be his disciples. Fishing was a major
activity but it was controlled by the ruling elite. Perhaps that is why the brothers where so
quick to respond and leave the trade!
And Jesus is calling us.
Perhaps all to
often the church uses the word “called” as it relates to people who are
ordained. Ordained folk are called to a
church. Ordained folk talk about our
call to ordained ministry. So sometimes
it seems that being called mean going into ordained ministry. Which cannot be further from the truth. All of us are called by God. And all of us are called to ministry. And that ministry is to live out our
baptismal promises. To help shine the
light and dispel the darkness. To
continue in the apostles fellowship – in the breaking of the bread and in the
prayers. To respect the dignity of all
of God’s people.
And everyone’s
call is different. Some are called to
provide hospitality. Some are called to
remind the church that we are to operate differently than empire – whether it
be the Roman empire or any Government.
We are called to turn a world where respect is suspect into a world
where all are treated as called and as beloved children of God. All are called and recognized by God as
important.
Jesus called
Simon, Andrew, Zebedee and John to a ministry that called into question
societal norms. A ministry called to
provide healing to a people who where under occupation. A call to subversion in an unlikely way. Not with force but with love. Not with name-calling but with respect. A ministry that opens eyes to God’s loving
reign trying to break in. Jesus called
the people to turnaround – repent – to see that things can and should be
different.
Jesus calls the
church and calls each one of us to subversive action. A subversion that does not call for walls to
be built but for walls to be torn down.
A subversion that calls for ministry not just in the city centers but in
the out of the way areas. A subversion
that feeds people who are hungry. A
subversion that clothes people who are naked.
A subversion that calls us to act differently! A subversion that calls us to see all people
as beloved children of God and worthy of respect. And yes even those we don’t like and even
those we feel are doing damage to our society we are called to treat as children
of God.
We are called – each
and every one of us – here on this corner and in every place to continue Jesus’
ministry. A ministry summed up in our
Gospel reading as “teaching …and
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every
sickness among the people.”
Amen
