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If You Say So

IF YOU SAY SO

LUKE 5:1-11

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE

The setting of today's scripture is one of the fishing coves of the Sea of Galilee also known as Gennesaret. Jesus had gained a reputation as a powerful religious figure, a healer and miracle worker. People followed him wherever he went. He had a clever device to keep people from pressing in too close. When the crowds threatened to overwhelm him, he would commandeer a fishing boat and asked the owner to row him out a bit. From this watery pulpit, he delivered his teachings to the listeners on the shore.

 

 

Luke 5:1-11 Push Out into Deep Water

Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd.

When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch."

Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets." It was no sooner said than done-a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. "Master, leave. I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness. Leave me to myself." When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee's sons, coworkers with Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, "There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women." They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.

 

 

EPHIPHANY, THE SEASON OF ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD

We're in the season of Epiphany when scripture lessons are about people's encounters with the divine. Last week we read about Paul's conversion in a flash of blinding light. Today the encounters are "call stories." Our call to worship was from Isaiah where the reluctant prophet is in the temple praying and suddenly he has an awesome vision-seraphim, smoke, a heavenly voice. He is immediately convinced of his unworthiness and protests his call: "Woe is me. I am a man of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips." No matter. God over-rules these protestations and Isaiah capitulates, "Here I am. Send me." On the other end of the spectrum, is this seaside event. No spectacle, no commanding voices. It's set amid the trapping of the everyday life of a working stiff. But is it any less extraordinary? No, that over-the-top catch of fish was a miracle that elicited from Peter the same response that Isaiah had. "Master, leave me for I am a sinner. I can't handle such holiness."

O.K. These dramatic events seem to take place with some regularity in the bible. But this is the 21st century. If we still observe the season of Epiphany; does that mean we should be expecting the same thing? Heavenly voices and miracles that defy reason? A sudden flash of insight in which everything falls into place? Well, I wouldn't rule it out; I've known it to happen. But I think most of our experiences of the holy are probably not so direct nor do answers come so clearly. As H. L. Mencken writes: "For every complex problem, there exists a solution that is straightforward, simple, and wrong."

THE CALL TO FOLLOW

There may be another way of interpreting this account. First, and most importantly, the Bible is not an history book. It is a book of testimony about people's experience of God. And it was written by people with a lot more literary skill than we sometimes give them credit for. They speak to our imagination by using stories, parables, symbols, and metaphors. They do not intend for us to read these texts literally but with the heart. In the first century, the sea is revered as a source of life and abundance and feared because of its danger. (Not much different from today, is it? The dangers of deep-sea fishing has been all over our news this week.)

So you can see what the metaphor of the great catch says about the life with Jesus-it is filled with both abundance and danger, rescue and risk. Alfred North Whitehead writes, "The worship of God is not a rule of safety-it is an adventure of the spirit, a flight after the unattainable."

DO NOT BE AFRAID

The most reasonable response to the call of Jesus may well be, "Get away from me. I can't stand such holiness." And yet, with a word from Jesus, Peter is reassured. In the translation I read, Jesus says, "There is nothing to be afraid of." I don't think that's a good choice of words. There is plenty to be afraid of. After all, at the end of the book, Jesus is crucified and Peter will follow him to a similar death- crucified upside down. I like the RSV better when we hear Jesus say, "Do not be afraid." That does not deny the reality that there is much out there that threatens peace of mind and the tranquility of daily life. But it gives assurance that there is help and companionship. Fear can be conquered.

I have heard from many of you in the last month that there is much in our lives also that threatens peace of mind and the tranquility of daily life. I know how much unrest you hold in your souls-anxiety about the war. Those with close family members and friends involved in it are touched personally.

Many of the rest of us fear for the continuing death and destruction in Iraq and are disturbed by our involvement in it. Beyond global uncertainties about hunger, war, and the environment, there are personal worries over illness, jobs, difficult decisions, troubled children. Much to fear.

We bring these to church with us looking for comfort. And today, we meet a Jesus who seems to be calling us to follow him into even more danger. Why would we want to do that?

THE DISCIPLES' FIRST STEPS

To me, the answer is found not by reading a single passage on a Sunday but by putting it in the context of the whole Gospel. This is the beginning of these disciples' relationship with Jesus. They see much that is attractive. When people are touched by him, they are healed of their infirmities; they know themselves to be valued by God. Peter, James, and John leave their boats on the shore, walk away from that enormous catch of fish, and begin to follow. Their primary goal is no longer security but meaning. They leave the familiar to pursue something that feeds their soul. But this is only the beginning of the story. We may admire their leap of faith, but it is less of a leap than a few shaky steps.

Barbara Brown Taylor writes:

This is not a story about heroes, it is a story about God and about God's ability not only to call us but also to create us as a people able to follow...[It is not] a tall tale about courageous fishermen who sacrificed all to serve their Lord. They did no such thing. If they did anything under their own power at all it was simply that they allowed themselves to fall in love. Home by Another Way. Barbara Brown Taylor

Remember who we're talking about here-Peter, the disciple best known for his failures, his betrayals, and his weakness. The first step is to follow and hope for the best. We are not asked to be good first, and then to commit ourselves to God. We are called to commit ourselves and be changed by the relationship.

GOD EMPOWERS US TO LET IT SHINE

The theme for the United Church of Christ's 50th anniversary year is "Let it Shine." This is a story about the light of God shining into and then through the lives of a bunch of pretty ordinary fishermen. It is no accident that the Gospel writers portray the disciples as people who miss the point, fail frequently, disappoint their teacher, and give in to jealousy and doubt. It is so we can see ourselves in these folks and know that if they can be transformed, so can we. When Peter confesses that he is a sinful man and pushes Jesus away, Jesus refuses to budge. Instead, he comes closer, saying, don't be afraid ... I've got big things in store for you.

Peter isn't punished for his sins, he's empowered to become a better man. God isn't interested in punishing us for what we have done. God is interested in empowering us for what we can become.

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Nelson Mandela quoted this challenge by Marianne Williamson:

"...our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. ... You are a child of God. Playing small doesn't serve the world. ... We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. Marianne Williamson.

Jesus invites us to take that first step toward becoming a shining lamp. We are called to follow; and he will reveal the glory of God that is in us. Just follow. Like this poem says:

"We know people who have seen Jesus,/people we trust.

We can see it in their eyes,/ in their lives. /

In our darkest hours,/ we have seen one life / that challenged us to think

there might be something to this after all.

Someone is following him . . . ."

Melinda Flannery