Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 25, 2015
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Mark 1:14-20
Over the last few weeks I have had
amazing conversations with members of this congregation and friends about the
importance of community and what community means to us as individuals and a
group. In these conversations two things have become apparent;
1) Connection and welcome are important
to our sense of belonging.
2) We have all been called in some way to
follow Jesus and that call has caused us to seek community that supports and
underlies our belief and deepens our understanding.
In my own life I am continually amazed at
the moments and people that have added to and helped to shape my faith, my
community. I have fond memories of my home church, funny anecdotes about
services and events, and stories that keep me grounded. Yet it’s more than that, because each of these
things have encouraged spiritual growth and challenged me to live out my faith
more fully. More importantly each of these things has helped me to hear the
voice of God in my life, calling me to follow and help transform the world.
"Come follow me! The kingdom of God
is right in front of you. I will teach you something new. It’s your time to get ready to share this
beautiful truth with everyone and show them this kingdom."
As I listen to our scripture readings
from today I imagine how God might be calling each of us. The way he calls us
is different but the message is the same-follow, wholeheartedly, regardless.
In the story of Jonah we see him at the
end of his journey. In the earlier chapters of the book we find God calling
Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell the people to repent because God was going to
destroy their city due to the people’s wickedness. But Jonah doesn't want to save these people- they are
different than he is, it’s not his
responsibility. So instead of following God Jonah decided to run away by boat
to Tarshish- the other direction from where he is supposed to go. On the boat a
terrible storm begins and everyone begins to pray to their gods for safety. It’s discovered that the fault lies with
Jonah. He is tossed off the side of the boat and instantly the storm ends and
God sends a fish that swallows Jonah. While in the fish Jonah has time to think
and pray. His prayer to God was one of trust and acceptance. Jonah realized
that even though what he was being asked to do was uncomfortable and difficult,
even though he didn't want do it, even though he felt ill equipped he was
called to do it by God.
When we get calls in our life like Jonah
or initial reaction may be to run. But to create big change we must face hard
truths and go to the hard places. At times we're going to have to fast and pray
and ask the Lord to forgive our sins and help us to change like the people of Nineveh.
Yet through it all God is there, God is moving, God is working to create hearts
and minds focused on his will. The people of Nineveh were Gods beloved, just
like us. Their willingness to repent and turn from their evil ways and violence
swayed God to change his mind. An entire city, a great city repented! Was not
God using them to show not only his power but his love? God’s vision spread from Jonah to all the
people of Nineveh, all one Hundred and twenty thousand persons. Gods call to
Jonah extended beyond what he could see, beyond himself.
The gospel message contains stories of
repentance and call. Our passage from Mark actually has two parts to it. In
verse 14 we see a Jesus who just spent 40 days in the wilderness tempted by
Satan after being baptized. John the Baptist had just been arrested by Herod.
Yet despite all of this Jesus decided to proclaim the good news of God in
territory controlled by Herod. Jesus saw the need for this message in this
place and went forth. In verses 16-20 we meet Simon, Andrew, James and John-the
first disciples. Their call is more drastic than it seems. These pairs of
brothers literally dropped everything and left their families because of a radical
man talking about the kingdom of God. I can imagine both their friends and
family thought they were crazy or stupid to blindly follow a man who had no
credentials, talking a weird message he claimed was “good news”.
But friends aren’t that the call each of us has responded
to in some way, the call that has brought us to the space, to this community?? Despite what others may see as illogical,
despite making a commitment we don’t necessarily understand fully we have said YES, devoting self wholly
to a man who lived 2000 years ago. This call to be a disciple of Jesus, a
follower of God can seem scary and overwhelming, at times it seems impossible
yet the answer is still yes. This yes doesn’t always come easy, it isn’t an instant answer, it can make us question our own sanity at times
but it is YES. We share this good news as we invite each other to personal
relationship with God. Jesus comes, proclaiming good news. Jesus comes,
inviting us to follow. We have heard Gods call, we have work to do.
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