Called

This sermon can be listened to here

Gate Pa – Epiphany 3 2015

Readings:

Psalm                         62:5-12                                                

First Reading:             Jonah 3:1-5, 10 

Second Reading:                    1 Cor 7:29-31  

Gospel:                                    Mark 1:14-20 

What I want to say and what I want to happen:

Use the Jonah and Mark readings to reflect on our calls and to ask what we might be invited to this year

What I want to happen:

People to share stories of call, and to reflect on how they are called now.

The Sermon

      1.     Introduction:

theme readings is call – Jonah and Mark

appropriate as begin new year.

chance us take stock

these stories offer us a chance reflect on our own call – individuals

            and as church

ask how called now, what might be invited to this year.

      2.     We Are All Called

We are all called

long time used say clergy called to “the ministry”

lay people would help them in that ministry

            heard clergy say that when young priest

            call was often seen as clergy thing

gifts charismatic renewal rediscovery that all people

            ministry

            called

rediscovered priesthood of all believers

call first occurs in baptism

we are all called

we all have ministries

I would go so far as to say

            no ministry is more important than others

            (mine is not more important that anyone else’s)

not say all same

wonderful array of ministries

all important

all called by God.

also say not one call

            call is ongoing thing

called into ordained ministry

`           into youth ministry

            out youth ministry

            be Franciscan

            into parish ministry and then to here

could go on

so today as we listen to stories

            offered opportunity to remember our own callings

            as start new year

            reflect on how live those callings out

      3.     Jonah

first reading Jonah

never intended to be history book

no person call Jonah who swallowed by whale

Nineveh was never as big as described

Assyrians never repented

Satirical book that pokes fun at Jewish leadership and others

            narrow thinking around who in and who out

            what their role was as part of in crowd

            and where God fitted in all this.

supposed to be so ridiculous that funny

as people laugh think – “o talking about me”.

God’s truth in story – rather than historical event

so we have this very self righteous and confident man of God

very clear about who deserves offer salvation

Assyrians aren’t on his list

response to his call by God is

“not a chance. God, you got this all wrong”

and he runs in the other direction, removing any possibility of him ever being able to do this wrong thing he is being asked to do

I wonder when we have responded to a call like that

Not me

you got the wrong person

or I don’t even think this should be a thing that happens

reminds me when people first suggested to me think about ordination

not part of my life plan

responded by stopping going to church

that would fix it

like Jonah

didn’t work

here I am today

when have you felt call and turned away

            how has that led to where you are today?

      4.     Story

Then we have the four first disciples.

what is interesting about story is that it comes right at the beginning of the Gospel

One common ways first line Gospel is understood

            The beginning of good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

refers to whole Gospel

story of Jesus is beginning of good news

importance those first disciples is that they then become part of good news

that good news was continuing on to hearers of Gospel

-         were now part of good news

-         we are part good news as well.

It is not about Jesus alone

but all those he invited and gathered into the story

      5.     Yes

we are told

            without delay –say yes

we could speculate on why said yes

            interesting

            even helpful

not point

point is that they said yes.

seem know deep heart that this was right thing to do

left all that was known to them

and all that was expected of them

followed

when I finally said yes to ordination – it was that kind of moment

training to be teacher

knew that would only be short time

just took long time to get there

as maybe Andrew might taken while get there

at moment said yes

when you said yes – as disciples did

knowing deep heart right thing

      6.     Other times

if I was to tell stories of when called – all be different

some sudden and unexpected

some gradually came over time as I opened myself up to possibility

sometime not get call something thought great at

            end call isn’t about me and what I am good at

            it is – Jonah reminds us – all about God

            what God does through us.

In next few minutes invite you use these stories think about times you felt or heard call

talk neighbours about

maybe talk about how called now  and what that might mean for this new year.