We are back in Matthew again this week, with yet another account of Jesus calling the disciples. If you recall from last week the two disciples followed Jesus, without being asked. Yet according to Matthew 4.12-23, Jesus is the one who called the disciples. They were just out, minding their own business, doing what it is they do every day - fishing.
These two guys probably woke up that morning, had their regular breakfast and routine, and went to work expecting just another day at the office - and it was anything but! That day Jesus happened to be walking by. When he saw them he gave them the command, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Now if someone were to come along to me and say that I might look at them strangely, roll my eyes, and turn back to my work. Or, if I had wanted out of the family business for years and just needed the perfect excuse, I might do what these two brothers did: immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus. But the disciples reaction is neither here nor there.
What I am intrigued with is that Jesus takes two fishermen, (or four fishermen if you read the next verse) and not only does he affirm the way they make their living, Jesus transforms what they do during the day into ministry. Jesus doesn't say, "Hey, if you want to follow me you have to become carpenters." Jesus takes the two disciples, just as they are, with their own skills, gifts, and talents, and makes them see their jobs differently. Who knows? Maybe these disciples hated being fishermen. Maybe they hated coming home and smelling like fish, or living in a rotten, stinky boat all day. And Jesus can use them anyway!
Part of our mission statement here at St. John is to be a presence in the community. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: we already are a presence in the community. Each of us, every day when we go to work, the store, kids' practices/games, etc. We're already there! The key is to move from simply being in the community to being known in the community. Who bags your groceries? Who sells you your gas and other convenience store items? Who sits in the cube next to yours? Who answers the phones in your area? Delivers your mail? God is calling each of us, in whatever it is we do during the day, to be God's presence for others. To fish for people. Jesus invited the disciples to 'come and see' last week. Have you invited anyone to come and see?
Someone told me that I had to go see a movie the other day. Wouldn't it be a great witness if we invited people to come to worship the same way we invite people to see a movie? To tell them, "you just have to go see what God is doing in that place!"? God is calling you to ministry, each and every day, right where you are, doing what you are already doing. The mystery is, how do you fish for people?
19 January 2011
12 January 2011
What are you seeking?
What are you seeking?
This is the question Jesus asks two of John the Baptist's disciples in Sunday's gospel lesson. We are in John's gospel this week, a gospel often thought of as more philosophical and theological than Matthew, Mark, or Luke (the three together are called the synoptic gospels). However, John also has amazing details that bring the stories back to earth, and part of our every day lives. The gospel lesson comes from John 1.29-42, and includes a second account of Jesus' baptism as well as John the Baptist continuing to point to Jesus as the Messiah, and in our lesson John refers to him as the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". (Sound familiar? Those are the words of our 'Lamb of God' that we sing during communion each week.)
Shortly after John sees the Holy Spirit descent on Jesus (notice in John's gospel that John also sees the dove - in Matthew's gospel we read last week it is only Jesus who can see the dove and hear God's voice) Jesus passes by John and some of his disciples. John points to Jesus and two of the disciples follow Jesus. In a somewhat awkward encounter, Jesus turns to those disciples and poses the question: What are you looking for (seeking)? The disciples in a not-so-eloquent manner respond with their own question: Where are you staying? Then comes Jesus' famous response:
Come and see.
But Jesus doesn't just stop with the come and see. He also then invites the disciples to remain with him. Remain - this is the same word for abide, stay, or rest.
What strikes me about this encounter is that the disciples, either because they were startled by Jesus' question or simply because they didn't know, couldn't articulate what exactly it was they were seeking. Why were they following Jesus? What were they seeking? Hoping for? Looking for? But even though they couldn't put their finger on it, Jesus invites them to come, see, and abide with him. What are you seeking? Why are you a disciple of Christ? What are you looking for? Perhaps a little bit of peace in a world that seems lacking? Maybe a little bit of sanity in the craziness? Or is it a word of grace, reminding you that you are God's child, made in God's image, full of gifts and talents God is putting to use in the world?
Whatever it is, even if you don't know, the answer is found in Christ. In remaining in Christ, abiding in God, staying with the Holy Spirit. That is the grace of God. Providing for us even when we don't know exactly what it is that we need. Giving us salvation in the forgiveness of sins. Allowing us to live an abundant life (and perhaps we need to think about what it means when Jesus says that he gives us abundant life). The mystery is a hard one for me to answer, and it changes on a regular basis. But the mystery remains:
What are you seeking?
This is the question Jesus asks two of John the Baptist's disciples in Sunday's gospel lesson. We are in John's gospel this week, a gospel often thought of as more philosophical and theological than Matthew, Mark, or Luke (the three together are called the synoptic gospels). However, John also has amazing details that bring the stories back to earth, and part of our every day lives. The gospel lesson comes from John 1.29-42, and includes a second account of Jesus' baptism as well as John the Baptist continuing to point to Jesus as the Messiah, and in our lesson John refers to him as the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". (Sound familiar? Those are the words of our 'Lamb of God' that we sing during communion each week.)
Shortly after John sees the Holy Spirit descent on Jesus (notice in John's gospel that John also sees the dove - in Matthew's gospel we read last week it is only Jesus who can see the dove and hear God's voice) Jesus passes by John and some of his disciples. John points to Jesus and two of the disciples follow Jesus. In a somewhat awkward encounter, Jesus turns to those disciples and poses the question: What are you looking for (seeking)? The disciples in a not-so-eloquent manner respond with their own question: Where are you staying? Then comes Jesus' famous response:
Come and see.
But Jesus doesn't just stop with the come and see. He also then invites the disciples to remain with him. Remain - this is the same word for abide, stay, or rest.
What strikes me about this encounter is that the disciples, either because they were startled by Jesus' question or simply because they didn't know, couldn't articulate what exactly it was they were seeking. Why were they following Jesus? What were they seeking? Hoping for? Looking for? But even though they couldn't put their finger on it, Jesus invites them to come, see, and abide with him. What are you seeking? Why are you a disciple of Christ? What are you looking for? Perhaps a little bit of peace in a world that seems lacking? Maybe a little bit of sanity in the craziness? Or is it a word of grace, reminding you that you are God's child, made in God's image, full of gifts and talents God is putting to use in the world?
Whatever it is, even if you don't know, the answer is found in Christ. In remaining in Christ, abiding in God, staying with the Holy Spirit. That is the grace of God. Providing for us even when we don't know exactly what it is that we need. Giving us salvation in the forgiveness of sins. Allowing us to live an abundant life (and perhaps we need to think about what it means when Jesus says that he gives us abundant life). The mystery is a hard one for me to answer, and it changes on a regular basis. But the mystery remains:
What are you seeking?
05 January 2011
Who has God created us to be?
Tomorrow we celebrate Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ as the savior to all nations. It is an action-packed day, and in some places it is a three-fold celebration: the epiphany of the magi and the adoration of Christ, the manifestation of Christ as the savior to all people, and some celebrate the baptism of Jesus on this day. We will celebrate the baptism of Jesus on Sunday morning.
The gospel text comes from Matthew 3.13-16 and is the Matthean account of Jesus' baptism. The question has been asked: Why did Jesus need to be baptized? If baptism is for the forgiveness of sins and Jesus was sinless then why did he need to be baptized? Well, according to Jesus it is to fulfill all righteousness (v. 15).
Oh. Well that clears it up!
To fulfill all righteousness? Righteousness is a theme in Matthew, beginning with the birth of Jesus when we find out that Joseph was a 'righteous man' (1.19). Jesus talks frequently about righteousness - but what is it? This is how a professor of mine explained it to me: Righteousness is like a mango tree. Mango trees exist to make mangoes for people to eat. If a mango tree doesn't do what it is created to do, then it is unrighteous. If a mango tree produced an apple for instance, it would be unrighteous. If a mango tree didn't produce any fruit, it would be unrighteous. A righteous mango tree is a mango tree that produces the most gorgeous, juicy, and delicious orange mangoes. So that when you are biting into that juicy, delicious mango, the only thought you have is: that is a righteous mango tree.
So righteousness is being who you were created to be. Jesus was created to be the savior of the nations, the light of the world, the righteousness of all people, the all in all. Jesus had to be baptized because he took on all of our sins. Because we can't be righteous (who God created us to be) by ourselves, we have to use Jesus' righteousness as our own. In baptism we are united with Christ, our sins are washed away, and his righteousness becomes our righteousness.
In the waters of baptism (which is a one-time event but an every day occurrence) we are made righteous so that we can be who God created us to be. So this week's text leaves me wondering: who has God created us to be?
The gospel text comes from Matthew 3.13-16 and is the Matthean account of Jesus' baptism. The question has been asked: Why did Jesus need to be baptized? If baptism is for the forgiveness of sins and Jesus was sinless then why did he need to be baptized? Well, according to Jesus it is to fulfill all righteousness (v. 15).
Oh. Well that clears it up!
To fulfill all righteousness? Righteousness is a theme in Matthew, beginning with the birth of Jesus when we find out that Joseph was a 'righteous man' (1.19). Jesus talks frequently about righteousness - but what is it? This is how a professor of mine explained it to me: Righteousness is like a mango tree. Mango trees exist to make mangoes for people to eat. If a mango tree doesn't do what it is created to do, then it is unrighteous. If a mango tree produced an apple for instance, it would be unrighteous. If a mango tree didn't produce any fruit, it would be unrighteous. A righteous mango tree is a mango tree that produces the most gorgeous, juicy, and delicious orange mangoes. So that when you are biting into that juicy, delicious mango, the only thought you have is: that is a righteous mango tree.
So righteousness is being who you were created to be. Jesus was created to be the savior of the nations, the light of the world, the righteousness of all people, the all in all. Jesus had to be baptized because he took on all of our sins. Because we can't be righteous (who God created us to be) by ourselves, we have to use Jesus' righteousness as our own. In baptism we are united with Christ, our sins are washed away, and his righteousness becomes our righteousness.
In the waters of baptism (which is a one-time event but an every day occurrence) we are made righteous so that we can be who God created us to be. So this week's text leaves me wondering: who has God created us to be?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)