Sermon
Heathmont UC
Luke 5.1-11
Fishing, and the gaze of God.
Each year thousands of young people would gather for worship, music, skateboarding, inspirational speakers and water fights on farmland in central New Zealand. When the festival got too big for the farmer, it moved to a large outdoor facility just outside the town where I was minister. Almost 10 times the size of the Melbourne Show Grounds it hosted a tent city for onsite accommodation and 8 different stages – for 10,000 to 15,000 people.
It was a warm summer Saturday in 2004. My sermon was ready for our Sunday service – Luke 5.1-11 was the passage set down in the lectionary. I went out to the Parachute Music Festival for the afternoon and evening. Late that evening I sat on the top of the hill in front of the Main Stage and watched a worship event with in excess of 10,000 young people.
This thought went through my head - someone had learned exactly what Jesus had said – Learning and teaching how to be fishers of people. Here was the evidence
Jacinta recently attended Yurora– the National Christian Youth Convention of the Uniting Church in Australia. Come on up and tell us about it.
But … I wonder how you have been ‘caught’ by the gospel? You may never have experienced a sudden blaze of light or a voice … but someone has nurtured you in faith, taken you to church, sat with you to pray or asked you a question that has sent you thinking deeply towards a change of mind or heart towards Jesus.
Peter is a Fisherman. With his mates James and John, he has been net-fishing this lake all his life. Catch or no catch, fishermen are out there. It’s their living and livelihood and they know it well.
Peter met Jesus some time back in the story - Luke 4 tells of Jesus healing his wife’s mother. That evening, after Jesus had healed Peter’s mother in law, a bunch of sick people and people with demons turn up at Peter’s doorstep to be healed by Jesus.
Peter has seen Jesus do this stuff.
He has seen the influence that Jesus has on people:
They want to be near him.
Some even find healing.
Others find deeper faith.
But there is something in this moment of fishing that blows his mind, and changes his heart.
In this moment of catching fish, Peter is caught.
Caught off guard
Caught up in the moment
His attention is caught
His imagination is caught
Hisheart is captured.
Jesus just did an example of catching people.
And Peter’s reactionis deep and profound.
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’
Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’
When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
In Acts 1, the companion to the gospel of Luke, Jesus says this;
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
They had learned all they needed. It was their turn.
If you’ve been taken to church, read a bedtime story, been asked a profound question, had someone pray with you … if any of these things have happened to you, then you’ve been taught to do this too.For your grandchildren, you children, your neighbours. Not bible-bashing people, but gently being Christ’s presence and opening Gospel to them.
A second part of this story also caught my attention: Peter’s reaction and Jesus’ response.
My attention was caught this week by a headline, “Seeking Stillness”.
Stillness is something I have sought to cultivate in my life - finding moments to bestill, calm and quiet.
I’m reading a bit about Mindfulness, Meditation, as well asthe Spiritual moments in endurance or long distance running, so I was curious to find out what this article was about.
In this particular case it was about Ignatian prayer. Ignatius of Loyola wrote a lot about Spiritual Direction and spiritual practices of prayer and contemplation. I learn a lot about prayer and spiritualityfrom people like Ignatius, Benedict and Saint Francis.
One of the lines in this article said this;
… before beginning a time of prayer, stand for about a minute and let God gaze at us. This is the God who made you and loves you. Stand up if you can, or remain sitting if that makes more sense. Be still, and let God look at you, or be with you, in any way that God wants.
In a similar vein was an email article that I read the same day from Richard Rohr, the Franciscan priest and contemplative scholar:
In a silent posture of self-emptying, we let go of habitual thoughts and sensations and connect with an Inner Witness (Romans 8:16)—God’s presence within—that gazes back at ourselves and out at reality with an Abiding Love. Contemplation is learning how to offer “a long, loving look at the Real.”
My moments of stillness are often about me communicating to God or just trying to sit still, not fidget or think about the next service or meeting or the next thing I have to do. I don’t often think about God gazing at me.
Because, to be honest, that’s scary.
It’s much easier to stand or sit on the beach and listen to Jesus teaching - nodding when he says something I like, and frowning a bit when he gets a bit weird.
Its easier still to be sitting apart from the crowd mending nets - doing something useful and practical, keeping busy, because there are SO MANY things to do.
There is always a sense of busyness and practicality about Peter. He’s the one who fixes things or runs errands or makes races off to find a sword.
You rarely ever find him sitting still on his own to pray. And on the one occasion when you do, he’s falling asleep! (Luke 22.39-46)
Peter would be full of ideas for the next thing to do - but not so good at simply being. Being still.
Sometimes when I slow down, or am truly still and look into my heart, confront my demons, or face my fears, I don’t like what I see. And I wonder what God sees.
Peter saw brokenness in himself.
No one else pointed it out to him.
No one called him a sinner.
In the face of this amazing fishing tale, he saw something in himself that he didn’t like.
In the presence of the Divine, in this personal encounter with Jesus, he found himself seeing something broken.
And it won’t be the last time Peter sees that brokenness in himself.
•His over-reactions to Jesus announcement of his death.
•His attempts to stop Jesus going to Jerusalem.
•Gethsemane when he runs away.
•At the Trial of Jesus when Peter denies he knew Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t tell him he is right. He doesn’t condemn Peter.
Jesus gives Peter a place on his team.
In that moment, Peter gets a first hand, personal experience of Grace and Love. Out of his comfort zone - aware that this is something way beyond his ability or experience - in that moment of vulnerability, Peter finds himself open to his own brokenness … and in the best place to experience the love of Jesus.
In that moment our hearts are open to
honesty
and learning and growth
andgrace and love
Let’s pause for a moment in stillness.
You may want to close your eyes and maybe rest your hands in your lap.
Imagine God looking at you – gazing into your soul. This is the God who created you and loves you. Hear those words of Jesus – Do not be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Follow me.
Allow yourself to be loved, even though you are very aware of what God is seeing. Welcome the invitation to join Christ’s adventure … wherever and to whomever it may take you.
In grace and love.
Amen
+end+
(For some other thoughts on Seeking Stillness, check out the blog post I wrote today … )