Sunday ~ January 26, 2014

Sunday ~ January 26, 2014

The Cathedral Church of the Nativity
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Michelle Moyer
Epiphany 3 Year A; Mt 4:12-23

There is a story about a minister who noticed a home in his neighborhood that kept Christmas lights on well after Christmas and Epiphany.  Each time he drove by this home he would grumble and complain to his wife that Christmas was over and it was time for this family to take down the lights.  All through January and into February the multicolored lights flashed and blinked and he became more and more irritated.  Until one day in the middle of March he noticed a sign outside the house that explained it all.  In the front yard was a sign that said – Welcome home Jimmy.  The family had a son who was returning from war and in anticipation of his return; they had intentionally left the lights up.  They wanted their home to be a beacon of light in the dark neighborhood when he returned and to joyfully announce to their friends and neighbors the gift that their son was home at last. (illustration adapted from Rev. Robert Russell, Southeast Christian Church)  

The readings on this third Sunday of Epiphany send a similar message.  In today’s gospel, we hear Jesus proclaim “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  This is not an unfamiliar verse.  John the Baptist issued this exact same command to the crowds who came into the wilderness to see him and now he is in prison.  But the news of John’s arrest causes Jesus to retreat, regroup and move from Nazareth to a new town, Capernaum, which is located in the region of Naphtali.  Moving to Capernaum is now the fulfillment of the sixth prophecy already presented in these four short chapters.  Matthew has established for the reader that Jesus is without a doubt the one for whom the Jews have been waiting and so he points to each prophecy that Jesus has fulfilled. 

Capernaum was located on the Sea of Galilee.  It was a relatively small agricultural and fishing village but still cosmopolitan.  It had people coming and going through the region bringing trade and foreign cultures.  Capernaum was once a predominantly Jewish town until it was conquered by the Assyrians.  With that invasion came an influx of gentiles.  This influx of different gentile cultures would continue as the region experienced successive conquests with the Romans being the dominant power during Jesus’ life.   And so to the Jews, they were living in a region of darkness which had been repeatedly conquered by outside forces and infiltrated by new gentile cultures as they waited for a deliverer- the Messiah.  The Messiah, who would come to make everything right; the anointed one who would re-establish the Jewish reign.  A Messiah, who was expected to destroy and defeat the enemies of Israel and be their conquering king and hero.

This is the setting in which Jesus established his ministry.  And he initiated it by repeating the words of John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  When Jesus’ listeners heard that the kingdom of heaven had come near they understood that God’s kingdom was about to be ushered in.  It meant that the Messiah had arrived and with the Messiah would come war, revolution, and the restoration of Israel.  But that was not what Jesus was saying because he also said something else – He began by saying – “Repent.”  Repent which means to stop and change direction; to turn around. 

And Jesus demonstrated exactly what this meant when he called the first disciples.  Jesus called these men with authority and they followed. He chose ordinary everyday, run-of the-mill fishermen.  Men who had a trade that produced a sufficient livelihood for their families.  And yet when Jesus called, these men were compelled to leave everything behind and follow. Matthew provides no record of them asking any questions.  Questions related to their future or what following Jesus would involve.  Simply – “Follow me” and they go.  “Repent, the kingdom of heaven has come near. Follow me and you will be fishers of people.”  With that, these fishermen are the very first to be caught by Jesus.

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and in order to see it, you must stop and change direction.  And then Jesus did something revolutionary, but not by leading a military revolt.  Instead, Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and he cured every disease and sickness among the people.  Jesus demonstrated God’s love and peace.  He brought hope to the oppressed and lowly. He taught his followers to view the world differently – to look on humanity with eyes of love and compassion rather than judgment. Jesus taught his disciples how to change a world not by conquest but by catching people through healing, feeding, and forgiving.  The abundance of Jesus’ love and grace will in time transformed this unlikely group of fishermen.  Men who would ultimately die to self and who through the power of the Holy Spirit, would ultimately bring the same message of love and grace to the world.

How many of you here today have ever watched a parent try to convince a child to jump into deep water for the very first time?   When the child is in the shallow end and their feet can touch the ground – they are confident and assured.  But try to talk a child into jumping into the deep for the first time and the reaction can be quite different.  I have observed many a parent try to lure a frightened child into the pool and into their waiting arms. Sometimes the persuading seems endless.  Cold and shivering the child stands with feet planted on the cement while the parent treads water and calls – “Come on and jump, I am right here, I will catch you.”  But still reluctance, fearing that Mom or Dad will not catch them and they will plummet into the deep water. 

We are often the same.  Our loving God caught each and every one of us at our baptism and continues to call us.  God yearns to be in relationship with us.  And yet we often stand with our feet firmly planted, finding all sorts of excuses why we don’t have the time or the talent, or the resources to jump in.  God attempts to direct our path and we rebel and go the way of our own desires.  God calls us to stop, change direction and follow; to die to self and be transformed so that we can be fishers of others - but we are afraid the water is too deep and God wants too much - even though time and time again God has provided loving arms to catch us. 

But, through God’s word, through the sacraments, and through communities such as this one which offers love and grace, God assures us that we have nothing to fear.  That God is always right beside us and so the water will never be too deep. 

Like the first disciples, we are called by God.   And just as Jesus went into the darkest regions of Galilee to shine his light on the poor and the oppressed, we are called to bring the same message of love, hope and grace to those who live in darkness today.  Our baptism calls us to share in the life of Christ; to see humanity as he did; and to work to usher in the kingdom of heaven.  Today’s gospel lesson challenges us to ask ourselves how God is calling each of us to do just that.  Are there people we are being called to see differently? Are we being called to begin a new ministry, or participate in an existing one?  Perhaps God is calling us to transform a part of our life where sin or past wounds persist.  Perhaps it is our finances.  God’s call may be different for each of us, but we are each called nonetheless. 

May we each demonstrate the courage and trust necessary to answer God’s call.  To be fishers of people shining the light of Christ into the dark places of the world, long after Christmas and Epiphany are over.