Here I am Lord, Send The Other Guy!
This sermon can be listened to here
Gate Pa – Year C 5th Sunday after Epiphany,
Readings:
Psalm Psalm:
138
First Reading: Isaiah
6:1-8
Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:1-11
Gospel: Luke
5:1-11
What I want to say:
To explore how people
respond to the call of God using the stories of Luke and Isaiah, suggesting
that they are not as straightforward as we often read them as. What are some
other biblical stories about call that might give us hope – Jeremiah, Amos,
Jonah?
Then ask “What are we called
to?” often answer working for Christ. In Luke Peter is called to let go of
everything he knows about fishing and to fish anyway. He becomes the means by
which Jesus catches fish. We are called to join in work of Spirit of Risen Jesus
bringing in reign of God,
What I want to happen:
what
are my stories of being called and how did I respond?
The Sermon
1. Introduction – Isaiah and me
40 years ago
-
Anglican centre
-
suggested
ordination
-
like Isaiah few
reasons why I thought not
-
stopped going to
church
-
story seems very
different from Isaiah
o
no “Here I am
send me” moment
o
didn’t instantly
and dramatically leave everything and follow
-
my call story
seems lacking in comparison
-
but is it?
2.
Isaiah
are other ways to
read Isaiah
less enthusiastic
Isaiah seems to
be alone when has vision of God in “the temple”
face of divine
knows failings and sin of his community
and his own
faults
knows every
reason why he can’t be a prophet
commentators =
potty mouth
coals not soap
then Lord asks
who to send
usually read
enthusiastic
but exclamation
point not in Hebrew
only one here
can be read very
hesitant
not a lot of fun
“How long Lord”
until nearly
everyone is gone
3. Other Prophets
very few prophets
very keen
Jeremiah – too
young
Amos – farmer
Moses – hadn’t
been to speech classes or toastmasters
Jonah – I don’t
like you. You are too compassionate and merciful to enemies
all of them were
more
-
“Here I am Lord,
send the other guy”
4. Peter
even Peter
not as dramatic
as this reading makes out
from this story
Peter cleaning
nets after long fruitless night out
random guy shows
up gets into boat
why does peter
let him do that?
because peter
knows him
already met
this is near
Capernaum
another story
with Jesus and Peter before this?
this has been
brewing
we are just
hearing about decision point
like my own story
when did say yes
– brewing for a long time
wasn’t dramatic
I just knew
what about your
stories
talk to
neighbours
any of prophets
similar to you?
what your stories
of call?
5. What are we called to?
5. What are we called to?
use story peter
to explore difference
working for lord
joining in work
of spirit of risen christ
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