Sermon

St. Mary Nanoose Bay

February 10, 2019

Luke 5:1-11  

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.              

We can get a lot done under our own will power. We make lists, we prioritize, we organize, we buckle down, we accomplish. We’re amazing! Why wouldn’t we be? We are made in the image and likeness of God.            

But we are also arrogant, competitive, determined to be self-sufficient and delusional. We think we don’t need God or each other. We forget that this power we use to do everything we do from swallowing to quantum physics originates from God; every bit of it. Every breath we take, every idea we have, every thing we make…. a gift from God.            

We think our gifts are for ourselves; we forget that whatever we’ve been given, we’ve been given to share. We were created out of love to live in love. We are relational beings; not separate entities.            

In our reading from 1Corinthians today we hear Paul tell the story of how he woke up to the reality of who he was and whose he was. After laying out the lineage of the disciples, he says, “Last of all, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am….” (1Cor. 15:8-10).            

In this passage Paul accepts who he is, chosen by God, not because he was a good person of his own doing, but because God chose him. If we accept our dependence on God, then we can accept the gifts of God. If we pretend to be humble and deny our gifts, we are stuck in the delusion of our separation from God.            

This theme is repeated in our first reading from Isaiah; the scripture passage read at my own ordination. “A seraph touched my mouth with it (a live coal) and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will got for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” (Is 6: 7-8). Again, we hear the idea that we are given the power to do what needs to be done for God and neighbour, if we are but willing. It’s our willingness to listen and obey. And just a side note, the word “obey” means to "to hear God's Word and act accordingly." So to obey is to respond to what we hear. It’s not up to us to decide if we are worthy, ready or able. God decides, God invites, God provides.            

So what keeps us from hearing and responding to God’s invitations? This is an important question. What keeps us from the love, support and generosity of God?            

In our gospel reading from Luke this morning, we hear the story of the disciples who have been fishing and not catching fish. They have done all the things they’ve always done, yet this particular day, their nets come up empty.            

Jesus directs Simon to move into deeper water and put the nets down again. Simon tells Jesus “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing,” effectively saying, “we know what we’re doing” but agreeing to do what Jesus asks, “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” In other words, even though reluctant, and wanting recognition for his ability as a fisherman, he obeys/he responds. And surprise surprise, the nets come up full to breaking.            

How do we get stuck in behaviours and patterns that may have once served us, and may do sometimes still, yet in the moment we are not open to hearing God’s invitation to new opportunities? To trust God’s nudgings and directions instead of our own ways of doing things?            

How are we being called today?            

I think of my sons when they were small but old enough to play on their own in our rec room in the basement. At 6 every night, I would call them up for dinner. They answer, “What’s for dinner?” and I would tell them. A few minutes later, I’d call again. And again. Until I was yelling and they would finally come up. I’d be so crabby when we finally sat down at the table to eat.             One night, I impulsively did something differently. I have no idea what got into me. When the boys returned my call to dinner with their usual, “What’s for dinner?” I answered, “Dog poo sandwiches.” Amazingly, seconds later, both boys were in the kitchen…. “What did you say?!” I told them to wash their hands and sit down. They did. And then I built up the suspense as I prepared to bring in their dinner plates. The whole episode erupted in gales of laughter. But it didn’t end there. In a relaxed and open atmosphere I was able to tell them how frustrated I’d been and how I would really appreciate it if they would come up to eat when I called that dinner was ready. They, in turn, asked for 2 warnings so they could finish up what they were doing before having to come up and eat. That day changed the dinner dynamic in our house. We moved the boat from a dry spot to one filled with abundant laughter, respect and mutuality.            

God gives us creativity and flexibility; insight and empathy. And humour!            

But think about it - how often do we do the same thing over and over without results we enjoy?            

If we are stuck in patterns that don’t serve us or others, we can change! God wants us to be free in not only the big things in life, but in the small as well. We’ve been given the power and talent to co-create the world with God.            

Jim chose the same gospel passage we heard today for his induction as priest at St. John’s Ladysmith. In his sermon he spoke about being drawn to the priesthood as early as 8 years old, leaving home and going to seminary as a 14 year old, and then being ordained into the Roman Catholic church 12 years later. But then he met me. What can I say? Rome released him from his vows so he could attend church as a lay person.            

Some 25 years later, after we had moved to the Anglican church, Jim sensed the same call and realized he could respond as a married man with children. And within a short time was ordained a priest.            

He simply listened to the nudging in his heart; he didn’t even have to move the boat. He had all the gear, he just needed to start fishing from the other side of the boat and found the fishing there abundant. Today he reaches out and touches the lives of more than 500 students and 100 staff twice a week in chapel in the private boarding school where he works.            

We create the barriers and problems in our own minds. We get stuck. And we do the same thing over and over again with the same results. We nag (well, maybe I’m the only one who does?), we judge, we withhold. What did Mark Twain say? “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”            

Jesus nudges us, encourages us, directs us to move the boat and try again from a different place, a different frame of mind, a deeper faith that God will provide, generously.            

Next week we will have our Annual Meeting and as part of that, will vote on our budget. The finance team has done an amazing job of preparing that budget; of making sure there is nothing superfluous in it.            

Our response will determine the year ahead.            

We can tell the same old story of scarcity or we can move from that place; move our boat, and go somewhere new. Somewhere where we live out of the abundance we continuously receive and be willing to share our gifts, money and time to continue to create a new reality here at St. Mary’s. Instead of scraping together what we need and doing extensive fundraising to cover our own costs as a parish family, we can be responding enthusiastically to God’s invitation to share our treasure and experience with others.            

Can you imagine if all our fundraising went to support people who are in real need, locally and abroad? Now that excites me!            

We stay in the same place and pull up empty or meagre nets, or we can move the boat to share the abundance we have been given, individually and as a community. Let us be known as the church of loaves and fishes, where combined, our gifts are to overflowing.            

It’s up to us to create the world we want to live in. God is our Creator, Jesus our leader, the church our family. We have everything we need. We just need to move into the right place. The only barrier to which is our thinking, our stories, and our fears.            

For as Jesus said to Simon who was fishing in the boat that day, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people” and it didn’t matter at all that he was a sinful man. We are all sinful. That’s not the stumbling block; it’s our lack of willingness to listen and obey where we fall down.            

So open your hearts, believe the good news and come to the table of abundance this morning. You are beloved. Simply trust, listen and respond. Amen.