5th Sunday, 10 February 2013
[Isaiah
6:1-2a, 3-8 | Psalm 138 | 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 | Luke 5:1-11]
TITLE:
Nothing But Net (2013-02-10)
[__01] Peter , the accomplished and experienced
sailor and fisherman – has encountered
someone , Jesus, with superb (superior) expertise of the water, climate, fish.
In this episode, Peter
wants to call it a night having caught no fish.
From the water what
the fishermen pull is NOTHING BUT NET. (Great news, yes, on jump shot or 3-pointer;
here, not so much.)
Then, Jesus says, row out, 1 more time.
[__02] A common biblical phenomenon is the
manifestation/demonstration of God’s power on the lake, on the water:
·
Red
Sea, the Exodus – the Jewish people cross from death to life with “Egyptian horse
and chariot cast into the sea” (Exodus
___)
·
Sea
of Galilee – Jesus calms a storm
·
And,
later on the Sea of Galilee – Jesus – and Peter for a little while – walk on
water.
[__03] The greatness of God’s power, the holiness
of Jesus is revealed to us, to Peter in these instances.
In the Lord’s
presence, Peter feels distress, anxiety, awareness of his personal sinfulness,
saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Luke ___)
[__04]
The Good News is that the Lord wants Peter to encourage Peter – to encourage us
– especially when we become aware of our own weakness, brokenness, sinfulness.
[__05] Are we not often reminded by others – or
called by others – to untie our boats – or untie ourselves from discouragement?
-
In
school – teachers (parents
too) remind us to open our books, our homework – each day – even for the
overwhelmingly difficult subject. To use our energy, our efforts – even when we
do not seem to be catching on …. Or catching anything.
-
In
relationships, are we not
sometimes surprised that our cheerfulness or our punctuality really matters to
other people. Even we do not feel motivated to smile, to be on time… then we
are also called to untie our boats and get moving.
-
In
prayer, we are reminded to
pray – just one more time for the difficult person – even his or behavior does
not change, we are changed by going offshore .. by using our prayer time to ask
for God’s help with the difficult person.
-
And,
in repentance/confession, we are called to admit our faults – even the
same faults so that we are reminded that we are truly free … even if we have
sinned. Jesus is not telling Peter is
NOT a sinner… but Jesus is telling Peter he remains free.
[__06] Peter
is asked to take a reasonable risk – a reasonable dare – by going out with his
boat.
But, at first, Peter
is discouraged feeling he is not good enough… or that some other truly good
person would be more appropriate.
Sometimes, you and I –
and Peter – believe – hook, line and sinker – that only certain people can
attain goodness …
But, it is even Jesus
who attains goodness while being fully human and fully divine. He is our
example.
[__07] C.S. Lewis, a writer of both novels and
spiritual works from England, writes this about faith and about our journey to
holiness and our journey to Christ. This involves risk – daring – even
temptation.
C.S. Lewis writes:
“No man [person] knows how bad he is until he
has tried very hard to be good. A silly
idea is [out there at the SUB, in the Lindens, Northpointe, the Courts, on the playing field or court, or classroom ... or in our house or heart] … a silly ideas out thtere is
that good people do not know what temptation means …. [or that] good people are
not tempted by evil.”
Lewis continues with
this metaphor:
“You find the strength of the wind by trying
to walk against it” [1]…and in
our efforts towards holiness, goodness, the wind is not always at our backs
So, the Good News for
Peter and for us…is not EXCLUSIVELY that Jesus is perfect and sinless.. C.S. Lewis is writing also that the The Good News is
that Jesus is a complete REALIST,
having also known temptation and known our struggles.
[__08] Each time that we open our hearts – or open or
books when we are anxious … each time that
we pray .. or admit our faults, confess our sins.
We do this because we
have also been called by Christ who strengthens us… even we have nothing but
net,
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