Third Sunday after the Epiphany: January 27, 2008.

Isaiah 9:1-4

Psalm 27:1, 4-9

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 5:1-12

First Reading--Power shift

Again we read Isaiah 9, which was our first reading on Christmas Eve. But now, in this season after Epiphany, season of revelation, these are the phrases that stand out. "The people who walked in darkness [the hopeful, expectant dark of Advent? the frightening dark of oppression?] have seen a great light." God has multiplied the nation and increased its joy, and along this way of the sea, that's like the joy of seafaring pirates dividing plunder. Why are they joyful? Perhaps because the power has shifted. They are no longer the "have-nots" but those who can distribute plenty among the whole group. The yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor is broken! No wonder gloom has been replaced by glorious light.

The theme of light is carried on in Psalm 27. Because the Lord is the stronghold of life, fear is replaced with confidence. In the first letter to the Corinthians, this confidence comes more specifically from the gospel and the power of the cross of Christ. Paul writes that to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

Our reading from Matthew begins with John's arrest, a pivotal turning point in Jesus' ministry. In response to John's arrest, Jesus withdraws. Then, he moves to Capernaum in Galilee. As John is forced to relinquish it, Jesus carries the preaching movement forward. Jesus starts proclaiming the same words that John has been proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Walking by the beautiful sea of Galilee, Jesus seems to realize that he cannot do this alone, and he asks some people to join him in this work. It's almost as if the arrest of John propels Jesus into this next stage of his ministry and into the sense that he is going to need people to be in this work with him. So he calls the disciples in a very simple way, with an invitation to join in creating a social movement. "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." How could they have known what all that might mean? But, they leave work, family, and security to follow Jesus as he goes through Galilee, teaching in synagogues and proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom, curing every disease and sickness among the people.

Zebulun and Naphtali are two of the tribes of Israel, which were located in the present-day region of Galilee. Josephus calls this region where Jesus begins his ministry "an earthly paradise." It is significant that at this point Jesus is not going to the wilderness or to a place where he is alone. Instead, he is headed toward a lush, green, beautiful, populated area, an area in which there are fisherman and farmers. It is a crossroads for all kinds of people. One way to look at this move is that Jesus is moving away from the center of imperial power to the grassroots.

Pastoral Reflection

This weekend's texts cast light on possibilities for a congregation in transition. A full range of emotions is explored as Isaiah's people move from anguish to increased joy, as the psalmist describes people putting aside fear and living with confidence, as Paul deals with divisions in the church at Corinth. As Jesus moves to Galilee, Matthew is clear in describing this move not as a "running for cover" but as a fulfillment of prophecy. Where is your congregation at right now? How can you as the preacher tell the story of congregational life so that they can hear God speaking through change? (28) If you cannot imagine a way (or even if you can), it may be that you, like Jesus, need a time to retreat to the lush, green part of the world in order to get a new vision, sense of calling, power to preach.

When have you sensed that you needed to take up the mantle of the preacher who came before you and step up to the plate? Like Jesus takes up preaching in the vacuum that John's arrest creates, we sometimes are propelled forward into leadership because of another's absence. However, Paul has a different stance because he is dealing with a church in conflict. In contentious times, Paul reminds the Corinthians that ministry is not about the individual leaders ("baptizers" in this case) but about the gospel we are called to preach in the name of Christ.

Every season can be a season for preaching the theme of vocation, but the Epiphany season is an especially compelling time. By vocation I am thinking of something far broader than a person's job or career choice. Martin Luther included family relationships, normal daily tasks, and even menial chores like a father washing diapers--Luther says that this father shouldn't feel ashamed to do this, though his culture says that's beneath him, because God blesses whatever we do in love. (29)

Vocation, ideally, can also include what we most love to do. God calls us to live life at the intersection of the deep need of the world and our own deep joy. God's call comes from both within and outside of us. In Psalm 27:8, we hear an example of inner call: "'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!' Your face, Lord, do I seek." In Matthew's story of Jesus calling disciples, the disciples get to hear it from someone else: "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people" (Matt 4:19). It would be a mistake to miss this opportunity to preach God's gracious invitation into the work of the reign of God.

Whom have you invited lately to do ministry with you in your congregation? Whom have you invited to consider a leadership role or to get a taste of something new? Whom have you invited specifically to consider ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament? This is a good assortment of scriptures to bring to people with questions of how God is speaking to their hearts and what they are hearing from those around them about next steps in life. Many folks, young and middle-aged and old, are just waiting to be asked, are waiting for the inner and outer call to coincide. Speak Jesus' call to them.

The work that Jesus calls us to is obviously far broader than the work we do inside the structure and body of the church. The kingdom of heaven is much broader than we typically envision. Jesus' initial work is to travel throughout Galilee, teaching, proclaiming, and healing. This is a wonderful time to lift up the vocation of all the baptized and perhaps draw special attention to those who have committed their lives to work in these areas: travel, teaching, proclaiming, healing. Encourage them in their work and challenge them to see these callings as ministry. JLMC 

28. For additional reading on this theme, see Craig A. Satterlee, When God Speaks through Change: Preaching in Times of Congregational Transition (Herndon: The Alban Institute, 2005).

29. From Kurt Hendel, "Luther and Vocation," session in LSTC's "Serving Christ in the World" program, June 21, 2007.