The Call Of James, and John and Zebedee

Transcription

1 The Call Of James, and John and Zebedee Jonah 3:1 5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7:29 31; Mark 1:14 20 I know that some of you must enjoy a good day of fishing. Some of my fondest memories are paddling my Father down the South Harpeth River in middle Tennessee in a flat bottom boat as he fished. And, I've caught a fish or two on my own as well. I personally like to go fishing when the sun is warm... And the company good... A cooler of Cokes, And you're actually catching something! Fishing is a great sport. A while back I caught a segment on a cooking show of restaurants buying tuna for sushi. Here were these huge fish... slimy looking fish in piles, All marked up for sale... prices written on their bodies. It really was gruesome. I've certainly never been commercial fishing, I've seen segments of that on TV too. It looks like hard work... Exposure to all types of weather. They use huge nets that haul them in... hardly sporting. It must be a tough way to make a living. I think we can say that today's gospel is a fishing story. Simon Peter and his brother Andrew are busy at work Fishing with nets. They aren't fishing for the sport of it. They are fishing to make their living... And it is hard work. Jesus goes up to them... Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. And a startling thing, These men put down their nets and follow. We're told they do it immediately.

2 No time to ponder the cost. No time to even pack their bags. They just go. Jesus continues on the move and finds two more brothers. James, and his brother John in the boat with their father, Zebedee. They are working on the equipment... mending the nets, as they too, this father and sons team, are fishing for a living, not for sport. Jesus calls them too, Follow Me. James and John join up. These four men, Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John hear the call, And make a radical change in their lives. They are now disciples, Following Jesus throughout Galilee, Following Jesus as he is about his ministry of proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and healing the sick. It must be exciting for them and probably scary, this new life, This new calling they have said yes to. But what about Zebedee? Zebedee had a Family Business... fishing. His sons James and John went out each day with him to cast their nets, And haul in the fish. This is how Zebedee supported his family And also provided food for the towns people. Fish, a staple of their diet. And suddenly, These young men lay down their nets, get out of the boat and leave him. Leave him sitting in the boat with his hired man...no sons. He may not be all alone. But one thing is clear. It's not Zebedee and Sons Fishing Service any longer. While working on this sermon, I found myself getting interested in Zebedee, So I looked in some books nothing but that he is the father of James and John.

3 Then I went to the Web. Same thing Only that he is the father of James and John. But really, isn't he much more? Maybe Jesus didn't necessarily overlook Zebedee, Maybe he intentionally left him to minister in his own home town. Today's gospel continues the theme of the last weeks The Call. And it's paired with two other stories of call. First this morning we encountered Jonah given a second chance to answer yes... The first time around is a whole different story. The Lord tells him to go to Nineveh and save the people. To call them to repentance... But instead of saying yes, He flees to Tarshish and jumps on a boat. The Lord hurls a great wind upon the sea, as the scripture tells us. Jonah realizes it's all because of him that the Lord is punishing this crew so he jumps overboard to save them. The Lord provides the great fish. the whale we usually say, And Jonah is swallowed up and then deposited on the shore. Jonah is saved... But the Lord doesn't let him off the hook. He calls him again, as we heard... Jonah goes to Nineveh, proclaims the message of God, and the people repent from their evil ways... The people are saved through Jonah's faithfulness. What a story of second chance faithfulness. And in our epistle reading... Remember, the early Christians thought Jesus was coming back imminently. Time was of supreme importance. St. Paul isn't telling the people to dump their wives, Forget about mourning the dead, become somber and forget their possessions because he's cruel. For him it's a matter of priorities.

4 He is getting their attention. First things First. Following Jesus must be paramount to entering the Kingdom. And as you and I know, Jesus continues to call. We answered our call at our Baptism, that big YES. We want to be followers of Jesus. We are ancestors of Jonah, We are Christians as the new Christians of Corinth, And we are disciples of Jesus. We must learn from Jonah that the Lord gives second chances. New opportunities for ministry. We can learn from the early Christians... Yes. Following Jesus is serious business. And like Peter, Andrew, James and John, We are reminded that some of us are called out of our comfort zones geographically, Maybe a mission trip... Maybe a long term commitment such as Peace Corp. Some of us are called to stick closer to home, Like Zebedee. To work where we are planted. Jesus leaves Zebedee doing the ministry that he is already about, Procuring food for the people. Most of us are called to minister in our homes, out our back doors, And in our neighborhoods and communities. The places where we spend our days. Maybe it's part of the puritan influence we still have around us, but doesn't it sometimes seem like we should do unpleasant things difficult things, to really count? Which translates that our ministries should be those things we really don't want to do, but since we have such high moral fortitude, we'll do them anyway! I believe Zebedee is telling us today... not so. God calls us to use the events of our daily lives as our arena of ministry.

5 How we spend our days... Be it working by the hour to make a little money... or practicing our Vocation or profession Raising children... Helping with grandchildren Community organizations... volunteering in our schools. Telephone ministries are powerful ways of connection... So is picking up a pen and paper. Intercessory Prayer. Even out walking the dog or getting some good fresh air... We encounter other of God's children. These are legitimate places of ministry. And Jesus needs us there... To be fishers of people on the home front... Fishing professionally. Not for sport. The Good News: it's a new year. And with new years come new opportunities, second chances. What are the gifts you have to share as you answer your call? Is there a new challenge on the horizon you'd like to try? Is there something else you are ready to hand over to another So that you can spread your wings in a new direction? You at Grace Church are about new beginnings these days. Like Zebedee... What does God have in store for you today? AMEN