Heeding the Call to Discipleship

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4  • Psalm 27:1, 4-9  • 1 Corinthians 1:10-18  • Matthew 4:12-23

The  gospel this week is Matthew's account of Jesus calling disciples to be fishers of men. What is involved in answering the call? Why did the disciples leave their net immediately and follow Jesus?  How do we "fish" for people? What is involved? Read Debie Thomas' "I Will Make You..."

First, you have to be open to hear the call. The farmer in Barrington Bates' story, hearing a cricket chirp on his visit to the City in the midst of sirens blaring, said "I figure you hear what you're listening for." Are we listening for the call? What are we listening, or looking for? Bates says Jesus gives us clear directives on what we need to do. Read his "Repent, Look For Signs Of The Kingdom, And Follow Jesus ."

What are you seeking? What do you need?

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7 -1 Corinthians 1:1-9 - John 1:29-42 - Psalm 40:1-12

This week's gospel has Jesus calling his disciples to be fishers of men. What makes them drop their fishing nets to follow him? In "What Are You Looking For?" Debie Thomas peels back the Scripture to help us answer Jesus' call to discipleship. Looking, Seeing, Finding. It requires looking, seeking, and seeing, not once, or twice, but constantly, to Jesus' invitation to "Come and see."

 Leaving comfort zones, examining ourselves honestly and thoroughly is not easy, but the journey helps us to find our true selves with the presence of Christ to help us find what God has in store for us. It is saving. It is life fulfilling. It is a gracious vision. It is about forgiving and seeing as Jesus sees. Loving as Jesus loves. Later Jesus would say that in losing ourselves we will find ourselves. What does that mean? Accept Jesus' invitation to  "come and see," and all that that entails.

In "Be Called," Dr. Sharon Fennema says we are called into becoming aware of the contours of God moving in our midst, from John in his gospel exclaiming, "Behold the Lamb of God," the presence of the grace of God, embodied in Jesus. Jesus, who, in John's gospel, before performing any miracle, or casting out any demon, asks "What are you looking for?" He's asking "What do you need?" From the"ends of the earth" passage in our reading from the prophet Isaiah, to Jesus's call to leave the familiar behind, we see God is doing a new thing, and calls us to do the same. The calling is liberating and collective. It was never just an insular individual calling. God will not be boxed in, and through God's grace in the redemptive and freeing love of Christ, neither are we. Such is the freedom of the ἐξουσία (authority which liberates - gives choices instead of domination) of Jesus. Jesus, whose name means "he who saves," the deliverer, the Messiah.

Stepping into "Belovedness" through Baptism

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9  •  Psalm 29  •  Acts 10:34-43  •  Matthew 3:13-17 

Every Epiphany we re-visit the story of Jesus' baptism. This Lectionary Year C, we consider Matthew's account. Like John the Baptist, we ask "Why,  if Jesus is God's son, the Messiah, the Christ, does he need to be baptized?" John even exclaims, "It is you who should baptize me!" Why should he who is without sin, be baptized for the forgiveness of sin? Why are we baptized? What is the significance of baptism? Read Debie Thomas' "Stepping in."

In a fascinating sermon, "Zombie Ants, Baptism, and the Beloved, " Michael Toy discusses "life and death" chemicals ants produce, and through his "zombie ants," he underscores his point that through God's Beloved Son, who took on on our humanity, we are worthy and beloved, too.

Slaughter of Innocents... Where is God?

Click Scripture link for Scripture of the Major Feast Day of the Holy Innocents


In Matthew's gospel this week we have the story of Joseph and Mary taking the baby Jesus to Egypt, as refugees, to escape the wrath of Herod, Herod's slaughter of the Innocents, and Rachel, who weeps for her children. Sound familiar? Where is God in all of this? In our grief and sorrow? In times of violence, suffering, war, false promises, appeasement, prejudice, and hate?


In "Remembering Rachel: The Slaughter of the Innocents," The Rev. Pam Fickenscher says Matthew is telling this story, not for the events themselves, but to draw us into the experience. This is a brutal world. The child, whose name means "God saves" is born into a world much like the one we live in. The peace he gives to us is not cheap. Here is no cheap grace, cheap sympathy, cheap comfort. A price is paid, and was paid, and in the midst of suffering, mourning, even dying, we know that God has been there before, comes near and is in the midst of our pain, suffering, and mourning. As this baby was rescued by loving human parents, we can do the same, for our children, and children who are refugees from violence, hate, prejudice, and evil. In so doing, God comes near, not only to those we rescue, feed, clothe, or shelter, but to us. 


The Rev. Dr. James Lamkin, in his "The New Normal," tells us God has been there before. He is with us now, and will meet us again. Whether we recognize God, or not. 


The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, speaking of the free will God, in God's love, has bestowed upon us, in "Love Defeats Evil," says "The Bible does not hide the painful truth of the world as it is. Scripture does not try to pretend that all is well. Throughout the text, we see the painful truth of the world: that given the free choice to do good and to love others and act on that love, many will distort the image of God within them and do unspeakable things. Yet, God does not let this stand unchallenged. Herod could not put out the light of God’s presence born in Bethlehem. Herod could not steal the gift of love which was Jesus.

In answer to the evil humans do, God offers love. Real, enduring, eternal love. Love that in time will break the power of evil and death. Yes, we see that an evil tyrant could use the gift of free will to do evil. But we also see that evil could not and did not win a victory in Bethlehem and it will never win an ultimate victory in all creation. The power of love can and does defeat evil. Love will win out in the end.”