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.”

God pitches a tent... and is always with us

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12  •  Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21  •  Ephesians 1:3-14  •  John 1:(1-9), 10-18 

This week of Christmas, we read another account of the Christ coming into our world. This time it is not as a babe in a manger with shepherds and wise men. In the first chapter of the gospel of John, we are presented with a cosmic account being with God from the very beginning. He is the Word made flesh. God tabernacled in the flesh in Jesus, and chose to live with us, and within us. Read The Rev. James Liggett's perspective on John's gospel in "The Same Story."

Moses was not allowed to see God. He hid in the cleft of a rock while God passed. God was not in the fire, the wind, or the quake of the earth. He was to be found in the sound of sheer silence, or as Father Paul Bresnahan would tell us, in the "daughter of a sound." Jesus told his disciples that "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." And he told us  he is always with us. What is it to see a "Permanent Glimpse of God," as The Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts tells us? 

The Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt tells us that the Fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John, tells us that in the life of Jesus, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The English word “to dwell” is derived from a Greek word that literally means to “pitch a tent.” Though not particularly poetic, the Gospel of John actually reads, “The Word became flesh and pitched a tent among us.” What does pitching a tent among us, tabernacling with us mean? Consider The Rev. Dr. Hunt's "And pitched a tent among us..." and add your thoughts.

Joseph... What Good Men do...

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16  • Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19  •Romans 1:1-7  •  Matthew 1:18-25

As we await the birth of the Christ Child this Advent, we read Matthews account of Joseph's dream. Think of what Joseph must have been thinking and going through when learning that his betrothed was carrying a child not his own - especially at that time and place.

What did Joseph do? Look at what it takes to be able to do what he did. It is hard to put ourselves in another time, another culture, and we know "the rest of the story." What do you think you would have done? Consider The Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt's "Just What a Dad Does," and The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler's "Believe in the Dreams of the Person You Love."

May God protect you and yours, and give us what we need to have faith, trust and to believe as we celebrate the coming of the Lord.

* All Sunday School Lessons may be viewed at http://chuckriffee.blogspot.com/?m=1

When expectations bring disappointment and grief

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10  •Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55  •  James 5:7-10 

•  Matthew 11:2-11

What do you think when your idea of what God’s will is, or what should happen does not happen – when your expectations are not met? This week, while in prison, John the Baptist sends a messenger to Jesus to ask if he is the “one who is to come, or should we look for someone else.” As The Rev. Danae Ashley says in “The Unexpected” “We put a lot of hope in people, and when the circumstances do not measure up to our expectations, we need help in grieving the loss of those hopes. Navigating the loss of the goals we have for ourselves, our children, and especially our God, can rock the foundation of our beliefs about the world and our place in it.” She gives a beautiful example of how parents, who planned, with great hopes and joy, the birth of a child, dealt with the child being born disabled, and the new joys and hopes they were given, and nurtured. Read Ven Irene Egmalis-Maliaman's Expectations . 

How can we have hope and experience joy when things don’t work out the way we want, what we dreamed of? The answer may not be what we expect, or want, but maybe the Advent miracle is to turn our eyes from ourselves to what God is doing.  As the prophet Isaiah said, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

What do we hope for? What are our expectations?  May we open our eyes to receive the hope and joy of the gifts of God when we let go of our expectations. We are not alone. John the Baptizer asks, "Are you the One?." May we look for, know, and receive the presence of God in our lives. Only then can we experience the joy which comes in the morning - in new beginnings.