It’s Time to Go Fishing - Matthew 4:12-23

Lectionary Readings for January 26, 2020
Isaiah 9:1-4 – Hope in the Messiah    v2 For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Psalm 27:1, 4-9 (UMH 758) – v8 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-18 – v10 Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
Matthew 4:12-23 – v17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Any time I preach or lead a group, regardless of age, I start the same way. I’m going to say three short sentences. Please repeat each sentence, with enthusiasm.
God made me.           God loves me.            God has plans for me.

The first thing I love about today’s reading is that Jesus called a bunch of blue-collar guys to help lead His ministry. Guys who were accustomed to long, hard days of messy work, risk management (i.e. drowning), and complete dependence on God’s provision through nature for their living.

Their attitude, their mentality, and their resilience were qualities Jesus knew His team would need to keep working despite inevitable rejection and setbacks. They understood the importance of working together, of rowing in the same direction with the same goal to achieve something bigger than themselves.

My favorite verses in today’s text are 19-20, “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’” I imagine Jesus saying, “I’m not just going to ask you to do something and hope and pray that you somehow figure it out. I’m going to walk with you, leading the way, training you by example and practice. We will share both successes and failures, together.”

The last verse is another favorite of mine. What does Jesus call His disciples into? Two activities:
1) A life of sharing the Good News about the Kingdom of Heaven (i.e. God loves you and you can experience that love here and now) and
2) bringing healing to those who need it.

Last week, our nation celebrated the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many of our church’s members participated in Susanville’s Day of Service. I thank you for doing that and look forward to volunteering beside you next year.

Dr. King was one of numerous Civil Rights leaders who, following Jesus’ model, led millions by example. Many of those leaders took the first blows, the first tear gas, the first dogs, the first fire hoses, the first bullets in their struggle for freedom and justice which was the Good News of God’s love and the healing that minorities across our country desperately needed – and many still need to hear and experience today.

Many of those leaders – at all levels – fished long and hard for the opportunities to work with business and political leaders at all levels.

Many of those leaders fished for clergy and laypeople who, in addition to thoughts and prayers, would march with them and/or work in their local communities to make freedom and justice realities.

Many of those leaders fished for places on election ballots and then fished for votes, volunteers, and financial support so that, in the halls of government, they could continue their quest for the social justice Jesus preached.

Today’s Scripture calls us into being participants with God in the lives of our family, friends, and our community. In the coming months, we – as a congregation – will reexamine where and how we believe God is leading us to actively bring healing and “Kingdom of Heaven” moments to Susanville.

At times, this will be hard work, with obvious risks, and a complete dependence on God so that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in Susanville. Each of us, in our own ways, will need to step into roles of leadership.

To mix metaphors and Scriptures, the harvest of fish is plentiful and the need for fishermen (and women!) is great. So let’s put our knowledge and resources and our faith into action. Let’s gear up: grab your rods and reels, your nets, your shotguns, whatever! Let’s get messy! Let’s go fishin’!

Amen? Amen!