2012 January 22

Sermon for EEaasstteerr 66 29th of May 2011

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Sermon for

3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 1:14-20

1/22/2012

Year B RCL

Sermon for EEEEEEEEppppppppiiiiiiiipppppppphhhhhhhhaaaaaaaannnnnnnnyyyyyyyy 33333333 22nd of January 2012

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The Gospels represents the word of God. How we receive and act upon them is our problem not His.


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Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make

known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel. Ephesians 6:19

I just love words, words of all kinds, words either written or spoken. Words

that rhyme, words that sing, antonyms, synonyms, an especially my favorite

- puns. I'm just a word-junkie at heart. Words stir my mind and motivate

me. Today, on this Sunday morning, we heard words from ancient times,

and far away; words preserved in hearts and minds to think; long before

they were enshrined on paper with ink.

The word theology is a fascinating word. But it is not just a word about

God. It’s also about us too. It’s a word that helps us to understand who we

are in relationship to God, to one another, and to the world.

The word epiphany is a word used to describe when a person suddenly

realizes or understands a (larger) real meaning of something. It is like

finding the last piece of the puzzle, when you can see the whole picture.

Although epiphanies are normally a rare occurrence they usually follow a

process that takes a lot of time and individual effort.

Today we heard some words from Jonah. Jonah was undoubtedly in

biblical literature the most reluctant prophet of them all. We all know the

story of how God called him to go speak the Word of the Lord to the people

of Nineveh, and how Jonah took the first boat he could find going in the

opposite direction. God, of course gave him a second chance, and somewhat

grudgingly, Jonah took it. Much to Jonah's surprise - and his dismay - the

people listened! And then we heard the words of Jesus from the gospel

according to St. Mark.



We are in the first chapter of Mark and up until now we’ve visited Christ’s

baptism and have witnessed the Spirit of God pouring down upon Him.

Obviously this entire introduction has been the setting of the stage for

something big that is about to happen.

And it happens in Galilee. Not Nineveh. Not Jerusalem. Not Bethlehem.

Not Rome. But in Galilee, it would be like expecting to see some drama

unfold in New York City or Los Angeles only to have the story zero in on

Terre Haute, Indiana. Terre Haute I know it’s a nice place and is no doubt

populated by lots of nice people but . . . well; it’s Terre Haute, for goodness

sake. It’s kind of like saying, “Ah, yes, Terre Haute. How nice. That’s west of

somewhere, isn’t it?”

It’s not the kind of “happening place” where one would expect a great

drama to unfold. But as the curtain goes up on this active phase of Jesus’

journey, that is where we find ourselves, witnessing Jesus—beginning his

unique ministry. We are kind of surprised to hear Jesus talking like John

the Baptist as he says, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has

come near; repent, and believe in the good news." At this precise moment

in history, as the greatest story ever told begins; the message itself is

sufficiently thin on content as to make it difficult to discern what’s so good

about it.

Jesus says, Follow me. Four men, men he called by name, Simon, Andrew,

James and John, did just that. Walking away from busy lives, deserting

families and friends, recklessly leaving all they had ever known - they

followed our Lord in an instant, and the rest, as they say, is history. From



the shores of the Sea of Galilee – the following of Jesus began, and grew,

and as a result of it the church emerged. We are the direct descendants of

those four fishermen.

So now, today, what does this avalanche of words mean for us? Two themes

emerge: first - the time is now. Second, we are called to change. At this

present moment, the status quo is no longer sufficient - at least, not for

those who want to call themselves Christian.

The essence of following Jesus is the willingness to be transformed. To step

into the footprints of Jesus along the sands of time means to step into

impressions that fit exactly, and yet, as our feet fit into the hollows left by

Jesus' feet, something shifts - not beneath our feet, but deep within our

souls. When we follow Jesus, we are changed. We become more truly who

we already are, and more fully what we have been created to be. I feel it is

important to emphasize that this shift, this change is not going to be a

comfortable one.

When we take this first step we cannot look behind and beyond where we

are at that very moment. After all, we are only human beings, with our

limited sense of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We will always be a

minute late and not prepared for what we need to know. And yet, we are

exactly that which God most desires. We are the finishing touch, we are the

missing link, and we are the piece that makes the picture complete. We are

created in the image of God, not so that we can be God, but in order that we

might be partners with God in the further and on-going creation of God’s



universe; dwellers in the kingdom which is both coming and yet already

here.

Thus the words from today's readings, calls for us to live in a deeper place,

not necessarily a place of comfort and peace, not in a place where all the

questions have answers, not in a place where all the problems are made

right, but rather we are called to live TOGETHER in a place of hope.

Hope is word that was not actually heard in today’s readings, but is a word

that helps illustrate the readings. Hope acknowledges that things are not

yet right. Hope is a word that says nothing is impossible. To live with hope

we must let go of despair, let go of the notion that we ourselves have any

power in us to fix anything. Power belongs to God. To live with hope, we

must follow Jesus. True followers of Jesus are given a clear view of what lies

ahead for them, while those who do not follow Jesus are given a view that

never changes and they are lost and afraid.

I admit I struggle with that image as it is presented in today's gospel

reading. I cannot imagine myself in the place of those four fishermen. I

cannot see myself walking away from my family, my home, or my friends

and going off in some vague direction.

But listen again to the words we have heard today. Jonah did not call

individuals. Jonah called an entire city. Jesus did not call just those four

men. He called for a group; he is calling us to be his disciples too.



To live in hope means to live in community. We welcome diversity to this

place; because we are the body of Christ here, not because THEY need us,

but because without THEM there is no us. Unless all are welcome, we are

not complete. Yes, we can be bearers of hope in these difficult and

confusing times because we are together, we are the Church. Wherever you

call home you’re most important address is here, for the church provides a

home for your heart. Here, in the presence of the Word, here, in the

presence of the bread and wine, here with all who are striving to do their

best, to follow our Lord, here is the place where hope is renewed and

restored because here is the place where all are welcome. Many of you

might recall this little verse: “Look at this church, look at its steeple. Open

the doors and see all the people.” All who reside here are of infinite value;

all are precious in the eyes of God.

May we all walk as a child of the light and follow Jesus and in doing so get a

glimpse of the face of God. Amen. The Rev. Deacon Gordon L. Samra


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http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Epiphany/BEpi3_RCL.html

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Year B

RCL

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Psalm 62: 6-14

1 Corinthians 7: 29-31

Mark 1:14-20

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim

to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive

the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one

God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great

city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh,

according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days'

walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days

more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they

proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his

mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.



Psalm 62:6-14 Page 669, BCP Nonne Deo?

6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *

truly, my hope is in him.

7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *

my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

8 In God is my safety and my honor; *

God is my strong rock and my refuge.

9 Put your trust in him always, O people, *

pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *

even those of low estate cannot be trusted.

11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *

all of them together.

12 Put no trust in extortion;

in robbery take no empty pride; *

though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *

that power belongs to God.

14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *

for you repay everyone according to his deeds.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even

those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they

were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those

who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though

they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.



Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,

and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and

believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a

net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will

make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he

went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their

boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in

the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised

Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the

National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

2012 January 22

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