Monday, January 25, 2021

Casting Nets Through Internet; Sermon On Luke 5:1-7

 

Rev. George Miller

Jan 24, 2021

Luke 5:1-7

 

Today is a familiar story- Jesus on the shore, calling the first set of disciples.

 

Today’s tale ties right in with virtually every Old Testament and Advent reading we’ve shared.

 

Like that of Elijah and the widow, it’s about a person with nothing, meeting a prophet who is offering everything.

 

Today’s story, like that of Elizabeth, Hannah, Rachel and Sarah, is an empty womb story. 

 

Instead of a belly, it’s an empty net.

 

This Simon Peter is a man of the sea.  He’s worked all night without a bite.  He’s done for the day, given up hope, washing his empty net, no fish to sell.

 

Like the widow, no food to feed the family.  Like Elijah, along comes Jesus.

 

Instead of asking for a morsel of bread, he asks Simon Peter to cast his nets.

 

As a result, the nets become full, swollen with life, so much life that two boats are filled.

 

Once again, a story about God entering into a time of nothing and bringing about abundance.

 

Once again, a story about how that which seemed empty becomes full.

 

Elizabeth, Hannah, Rachel, and Sarah had an empty womb; Simon Peter had an empty boat.

 

The widow of Zarapeth listens to Elijah and her jar of oil never runs out; Simon Peter listens to Jesus and his nets nearly break apart.

 

There’s something else about our story that speaks to our current situation- God takes that which is ordinary and turns it into a vessel of Good News.

 

Think about it- today we see Jesus do something brand new.  Up to this point, Jesus was worshiping at the synagogue, teaching and preaching on the Sabbath, going to where the worshippers are.

 

But today, it’s not the Sabbath, and it’s not the synagogue. 

 

It’s a beach with sand, not pews. It’s outside, not inside 4 walls.

 

And it’s a boat, a boat that Jesus uses to share the Good News; a simple, every-day boat that belongs to an everyday man.

 

This is not The Love Boat. It’s not the yacht Goldie Hawn sunbathed on in “Overboard.” This is not a ship you see docked outside in Sarasota.

 

This is an stinky, smelly fishing boat that belonged to a stinky, smelly man.

 

Anyone who’s ever fished with men can attest that there is nothing classy or holy about a fishing boat.

 

It’s sun bleached, barnacled, with bird poop stains, permanent fish gut smell, heard its’ share of blue humor, boasts and burps, had men urinate off the side and throw food scraps into the water.

 

A fishing boat is the furthest thing from the ritual purity and hallowed holiness of a synagogue.

 

And that’s what Jesus uses to preach the Good News, to produce abundance, and to build the worship community.

 

A barnacled, sun-bleached, boat.  On a non-Sabbath.  Free of walls and posted worship times.

 

How similar to what we’ve experienced since Spring. 

 

Because of COVID, churches are finding new ways to bring the Good News to people.

 

Because of COVID, we’ve finding shores, boats, and other means to cast out and to be The Good News.

 

Just as Jesus was ministering outside of the Sabbath, going beyond walls, and using the every-day, Jesus is doing the same thing in 2021.

 

Instead of a boat and a net, it’s our cellphones and the internet.

 

Think about it- 9 months ago we used our cell phones to gossip, shop, and take selfies.

 

Now we’re using cell phones to film worship, to transmit live services, to share a message with people who are standing on the virtual shores.

 

Who could have imagined a year ago that this “thing” would become the most essential tool outside of the Bible that we would use to share the Gospel?

 

Yes, that’s how God works, isn’t it?

 

If God can take an empty womb and make it full, God take can take an empty net and fill it to breaking.

 

If God can use a burning bush, a giant fish, a manger, then God can use a barnacled boat or a cell phone.

 

Once again, we see God taking that which seems empty and turning it into soul affirming joy.

 

We see God taking that which seems ordinary and turns it into extraordinary.

 

We see God working outside of Sabbaths and Sundays, outside of walls, outside of set times and schedules.

 

Yes…we are still in a period of mourning.  Yes, we as a nation, as a people, as a church, have lost a lot.

 

Yes, we miss you every single Sunday.  We feel your spirit, but we miss your presence, your voice, your touch.

 

We grieve for what we are without, and how empty the sanctuary is without you.

 

At the same time, we give thanks for the ways that Jesus is on the shore, finding ways to still teach, finding new ways to still cast Heaven’s Net.

 

We give thanks for the Kathryn Ferguson’s who are able to worship with us even though they are far away.

 

We give thanks for the Joy Vera’s who have never set foot in our sanctuary but feel called to give to The Shepherd’s Pantry.

 

We give thanks for those who are at home, comfortable in their pajamas, sipping their coffee, maybe even doing their nails while being spiritually filled.

 

We give thanks that a technology we took for granted has now become its own boat in which we can cast out a net that goes beyond walls, time zones, state lines, and days of the week.

 

We also give thanks, in advance, that one day, ONE DAY, we will return.

 

ONE DAY we will return to our beautiful sanctuary, we will return to hymn sings and hugs, we will return to walls that keep us secure and sounds and smells that fill our spirit.

 

We also give thanks that when we return, we will continue to use the boats, the nets to continue discovering ways to share the Good News, to be The Good News, and to give thanks for the Good News.

 

And for that, let us all say “Amen!”

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