Sermon For 2025-Feb-09

Texts: Sermon Only
Isaiah 6:1-13
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11


0 In our gospel reading today, Jesus borrows the boat of Simon the fisherman, and in doing so, gives Simon an amazing gift, which includes a boat full of fish. However, this highlight of Simon's fishing career also marks the end of Simon's fishing career, because from this point on, Simon is CALLED... to be a catcher of people.
1 Imagine a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman walking hand-in-hand along a beach at sunset. The man stops and says to the woman, “Close your eyes for a minute.” Several things go through the woman's mind: “Do I trust this guy? What is he up to? This is a strange request.” But she agrees, and she closes her eyes, saying to him, “OK, if you say so.” When she opens them again at his request, she sees him kneeling before her, holding out to her a very impressive engagement ring. The man has given her a beautiful, LIFE-CHANGING gift. “Say yes”, he says, “and we will live the adventure, together.” He reveals himself in his love for her, he accepts her, and he chooses her out of all possible women, to live with him as his partner.
Simon, in our gospel reading, hears his own strange request from Jesus, “let down your nets for a catch.” Simon knows all too well that there are no fish to catch around here – they spent all last night letting down the nets and catching nothing. But Jesus has a powerful reputation as a rabbi, so Simon gives him the benefit of the doubt, “OK, if you say so.” And then, wow! Jesus gives Simon a beautiful, life-changing gift. “They caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break, filling both boats so that they began to sink.” And Simon did not miss the significance of this event – immediately Simon prostrates himself at Jesus' knees and begs for mercy, because with this sign, Jesus reveals himself as God. And Jesus' next words tell Simon the beautiful news that he is accepted, “Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid, I am not here out of wrath, but out of love.” And then, Jesus gives Simon the life-changing invitation, “come with me, and together we will go and catch people.” Jesus reveals himself, accepts sinful Simon, and invites Simon, the lowly fisherman, to be a partner in his ministry. What an honour – and what a gift.
2 Jesus gives to us this very same gift. First, Jesus reveals himself to us in no uncertain terms, through the Word and the Holy Spirit. Those of us who grew up in Christian homes have had Spirit-led parents and teachers and pastors who have shown us Jesus from day one. Those of us who recognized Jesus later in life were led to Jesus by the Holy Spirit working within us, through Bible reading and often, through the example of a community of people witnessing to Jesus. Jesus has chosen to reveal himself to us – what a gift.
And in our baptisms, Jesus declares us acceptable to God in his name. Jesus brings us forgiveness from God for all of our sins, at great cost to himself. He does this for us not out of wrath, but out of love. And to remind us of this forgiveness, Jesus comes to us in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, so that our tongues and taste buds can help our brains remember what Jesus has done for us. Jesus has accepted us – what a gift.
And then, in our baptisms, Jesus chooses us out of all the people in the world, to be his witnesses. All of us are partners with him in ministry, hand-picked by Jesus to go out and make disciples everywhere we go. Jesus places in us so much of his trust that we are like his own body – doing in the world everything Jesus wants done. Jesus has chosen us – what an honour, and what a gift.
And unlike Simon in the boat, we also know the end of the story. Jesus will return, and when he does, he will conquer forever the evil in the world. And we will be raised from the dead like Jesus was, to live eternally with God in paradise. Jesus has given us everlasting life – what a beautiful gift!
What do all these gifts mean for us? What COULD these gifts mean for the people around us? For one thing, we do not need to fear death as the end of everything, for ourselves or for our loved ones, because WE WILL be raised from the dead. We do not need to fear the punishment of an angry God, because WE HAVE been forgiven. We do not need to conform as the world commands to be of value – slaving longer and harder to impress others and feel good about ourselves, because WE HAVE been chosen. No matter what happens to us, for good or for ill, God is with us, because WE HAVE been made partners with God in his mission to change the world. We can surround ourselves at times like today, with like-minded people, because WE HAVE become the body of Jesus in the world. We have been given all of this by Jesus – as a beautiful gift. The CALL of Jesus...is a gift.