The test this past Sunday were: Isaiah 6:1-13, Psalm 138, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 and Luke 5:1-11. These sermon was mainly based on the text from Luke. I also did something fun and used more storytelling techniques while reading the Gospel. Didn't really get any feedback on it though since I stood at a different door in order to catch someone when they left.
Oh and on another fun note, yesterday afternoon I went to the ordination of three women: Judy Converse, Sandy Demmler-D'Amico and Peggy Yingst. It was the first ordination that I went to since my own ordination back in September. Congratulations ladies! You are and will be wonderful pastors.
But now on to the sermon:
I would love to know exactly what was going through Simon Peter’s mind when Jesus told him to go out into the deep waters in order to catch some fish. Was Simon sarcastic? “Oh sure we will go out fishing some more. It is not like us professional fishermen have not been out all night and haven’t caught anything. But of course by all means, if a carpenter says that there is fish, well then there has to be fish.” Or maybe he was eager to please the man who had jut healed his mother-in-law. “Yes master, we haven’t caught anything but you must know where the fish are for I have seen you heal many people” Maybe he thought it was worth a chance “Sure master, I mean we haven’t caught anything but as long as we are out here, what harm is it to put out the nets one more time?” Or maybe he was just plain tired and wanted to go home after a long night of unsuccessful fishing and thought if he just did as Jesus told him, then he could go home and take a nap. “Oh Lord, I’m so tired, we haven’t caught any all night, but if it makes you happy I will cast down my nets, but then can I go home and sleep?”
But regardless of his mood, regardless if he wanted to prove Jesus wrong, or just get home to sleep, there was a level of trust Simon had in Jesus. He didn’t rebuke him entirely, telling Jesus that he must be crazy, nor did he refuse to cast out his nets. Instead, whether with complete conviction or just half heartedly, Simon trusts in Jesus.
And sometimes it makes no sense to trust Jesus. Simon was a professional fisherman, Jesus was a carpenter from a land locked town. Why would Jesus know where the fish are to be found when Simon spent all night without a catch? Jesus was a man who lived two thousand years ago in a Jewish culture and we are living here today, in the year 2010, in America, with economic uncertainty, constant influences from media, in a county with one of the largest income per capita. Jesus knew nothing about modern-day living. About current pressures on our time, our finances, our families. Trusting Jesus doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you look at it from a critical perspective. In fact it makes about as much sense as Simon trusting that Jesus knew where the fish were. Maybe that is why so many people do not attend church: because it doesn’t make sense to trust in Jesus.
But Simon does trust Jesus, maybe not willingly, maybe not with all of his heart, soul and mind. He was probably thinking about other things, he was probably thinking it was a waste of time or wouldn’t lead to anything. But Simon Peter did trust Jesus. He cast out his nets.
And boy was that a fruitful cast. The nets were so full of fish that they were beginning to break. The nets were so full that he had to call to his partners James and John in the other boat to help him. The nets were so full that both boats almost sank under the weight of all the fish. Simon then trusted Jesus and left everything to follow him. Simon trusted Jesus and became Peter. Simon Peter trusted Jesus and became one of Jesus’ most trusted disciples. Simon Peter trusted Jesus and saw Moses and Elijah on the mountain top. Simon Peter trusted Jesus and became the rock on which the Jesus’ church has been built. Simon Peter trusted Jesus and he was never again the same.
This trust was not easy. Simon was still human. Multiple times in the gospels Simon questions Jesus. Simon wants to stay on the mountain and build dwelling places for Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Simon Peter questioned about the direction of the early church, after Jesus was no longer there to guide him, he worried about decisions over early converts, eating unclean foods, or how to appropriate worship. Simon trusted Jesus but he also did not blindly follow. He may have left everything he owned behind to follow Jesus, but he did not leave behind the human need and desire to question, to think about, to second guess who was leading him.
And what about us? Many of us say that we trust God, even if it seems ridiculous at times. We second guess God. We run away from what God is calling us to do, whether it is a career, a relationship, a volunteer activity or a social event. We try to over-analyze what is in our best interest or what we can afford and try to go with what others are doing. We do these things instead of listing to our heart, to what God is calling us to do.
Is God calling you to give a few bucks to the Haiti relief efforts because that is what other people are doing and what you can afford, or is God calling you to organize a group of people to go down there and help people in need rebuild their homes. Is God calling you to work in your current field because it is economically secure and you don’t mind the work that much or is God calling you to a different field that might be less pay but allows you to do a greater good in the world? Is God calling you to enjoy the Sunday School program and choir or is God calling you to use your teaching skills or voice in order to be a more active participate in the life of Bethlehem? Is God calling you to tell others about how you trust in Jesus, even when it doesn’t make a lot of sense? Is God calling you to invite a friend or neighbor to church? What is God calling you to do?
Jesus called Simon to trust him, and Simon followed. Jesus is calling us to trust him. And it may not make a lot of sense. But when we trust in Jesus, when we follow where Jesus is calling us, when we ignore what is rational and instead do what God wants us to do the rewards are great. When we trust in Jesus our nets are so full that they are breaking. When we following where Christ is calling us our nets are so full that we have to call on others for help. When we do what is on our hearts and minds our nets are so full that our boats are almost sinking under the weight. When we follow Christ we will never again be the same.
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