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All the texts this week connect around the theme of being called
by God. The skilled preacher may be able to intertwine the calling of Isaiah,
Saul, and Simon. While the specifics of each call are unique, all of them
display a much deeper theme that runs throughout Scripture. God specifically
calls individuals whom the world, the religious establishment, or the individuals
themselves believe are unworthy. God often calls individuals whom the world
would have easily ignored (e.g. Abram, David, Gideon, Rachel, Joseph, and
those motley disciples).
The Luke 5 text offers a similar story recorded in John 20.
While scholars debate whether there are two separate incidents or they refer
to only one, each Gospel offers a very powerful encounter between Simon (Peter)
and Jesus. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus has already been performing miracles
so it is possible Peter already knew of Jesus.
It is also intriguing Jesus calls Simon to become a disciple
after the fishing expedition. In Scripture, water continually represents chaos,
that which is powerful, mysterious, and disordered. Of course in a later narrative,
Jesus will invite Peter out of the boat in a storm to walk upon the water.
At the huge catch of fish, Simon, rather than joyful over the
great payday that was coming, was filled with fear. He recognized the holiness
of Jesus. Jesus’ response to Simon is a command, “Do not fear.”
This is the same response given by angelic messengers when they are first
revealed to people (e.g. Joseph, Mary, Zachariah) For Peter, it is being in
the presence of the Holy One that serves as a revelation of the awesomeness
of the encounter and a reminder of his own sinfulness.
This text is a powerful reminder that God’s call upon
us is not simply to be an extra-curricular activity, but is an invitation
to an entirely identity. This is an identity where we yield rights to God
and die to self-fulfilling dreams and ambitions. However, who we are and who
God created us to be do not then become irrelevant. The key is that all individuals
have been gifted by God. The question is not, “Are we gifted,”
but, “Are we using God’s gifts for our own purposes or for God’s?”
When God calls it is very tempting to think we are doing God a favor. In truth
God’s call is also a means of salvation.
Interestingly it was the miracle of the fish that prompted Simon
to recognize the holiness of Jesus. Jesus, this teacher and carpenter, ordered
tired fishermen to go out at the wrong time of day, with silly fishing techniques.
Yet this resulted in a large number of fish being caught. This miraculous
catch illumined the holy light of Jesus that cast the shadow of sinfulness
on Simon. Notice when Simon asks Jesus to go away from him because he is sinful,
Jesus does not deny or refute Simon’s self-description. Jesus does not
say, “Oh, no Simon, you really are not that bad.” Both Simon and
we must remember we are not worthy by ourselves of the calling we have received.
Again, we must not think we are doing God any favors by following God’s
call. To use a cliché from previous generations, “God does not
call the qualified, he qualifies the called.” This is true.
In response to Simon’s penitent confession, Jesus responds
with an imperative, “Do not fear.” Jesus commands Peter, in the
very boat doing the very thing that was Simon’s identity, that his life
will no longer be about himself, but for people. But it is very important
we remember, just like the huge catch of fish, it is God who is the real power
behind the catching of people.
The disciples’ response here is perhaps so well known
it fails to shock us. After Jesus’ command they left everything and
followed Him. It is most likely they even left the great payday of fish on
the shore for the community to use and enjoy. There is nothing different with
the demands of Jesus’ call today. Are you willing to trust your life
to God? God often calls in times and places where we think we have better
things to do. Jesus calls Simon when he was tired. He begins by asking Simon
if he could use his boat to teach from. This initial willingness begins the
path of obedience that will ultimately bring him to leave the boat, nets,
and fish on the seashore.
What can God do through you when you let God use your boat?
It is clear we can be quick to offer God many reasons why God should choose
someone else. Many times our self-deprecation is not based on a recognition
of our sinfulness, but on excuses because in truth we would rather be doing
something else. The question we are faced with when God calls is this: “Do
you really believe God knows better than you as to what will bring you the
greatest amount of happiness and joy?” By our responses to God, it would
seem ultimately we do not fully trust God. We still believe we have a better
handle and path to life than what God might direct us to. This is where we
miss the entire point. The joy of the Christian life, the joy for the disciples,
is not simply that their life would be “happier” or even that
their life would lead to eternal bliss. What must not be missed is that Christian
joy and hope are not based solely upon the future end. The journey itself,
following Christ, this is where real hope, joy, and life begin. Who knows
what might happen when God uses your boat. The invitation to the Christian
vocation is not simply for those who feel called to professional ministry.
The truth is that as Christians we are all priests, we are all ministers.
The question that demands a response is this, “will you follow?”
Can God use your boat?
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons.”)
This text offers a simple message that must not become clouded.
Jesus called and the disciples followed. So too Jesus calls us; will we follow?
It is important this text not be simply about God calling people to clerical
ministry in the Church. God’s call comes to all of us. Whether one’s
paycheck comes from the Church or from secular industry, God calls everyone.
It would be advantageous to think about simple situations in
life when people ask things of us, whether it is to borrow tools or to watch
their kids, or to give them a ride to the airport. Why do we or do we not
respond to the call of others?
Furthermore, many people find reasons and excuses why God could
not really use them. To illustrate this point it would prove helpful to highlight
illustrations of individuals whom the world pushed to the margins or ignored,
but through whom God did amazing things. One can always use a figure like
Mother Teresa, but it will prove more powerful to take an example from one’s
own community or even if appropriate one’s church. God does not expect
everyone who follows Him will eventually win a Nobel Peace Prize. The truth
is ministry for the kingdom is often never given exposure in our pop culture.
Again it must be articulated that following God’s call is not simply
for the fruit or harvest of what God does through the person. This is the
path of discipleship. To be Christian is to follow Christ. As we follow we
recognize it is in God using our boat and whatever gifts God has given that,
we, like Peter, find life.
Here are a few central anchors that shape this narrative. Foremost, the catch is all about God. The disciples were simply following the commands of Christ. I doubt any of them would have tried to take credit for the huge catch of fish. Second, God calls us though we are unworthy. God used people, especially those whom the world would have dismissed as having little to offer. God does not desire to use us simply because we are more talented than others. What God requests is that we give our life away for God’s purposes and ministry, not to establish a selfish kingdom of personal comfort. In addition, God does not call us to isolated ministry. It is worth noting Simon could not haul in the fish by himself. He needed help. We are also invited, not as isolated ministers, but as ministers of the Church to enter into the community of catchers. As those who have been caught, we are invited to let God use us to catch others. Who knows what can happen when we let God use our boat. Will you follow?