Messages, Meditations, and Musings on the Life of Faith by Rev. Dr. Scott E. Olson, Interim Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Preston, MN

Sunday, January 20, 2013

"Leaving for Good" - Sermon for Second Sunday after Epiphany


Leaving for Good
Epiphany 2 (NL3)
January 20, 2013
Luke 4.14-30; 5.1-11

At its heart, the season of Epiphany focuses on manifestations, or disclosures, of God’s presence in our world. On Epiphany itself, there is the star guiding us to the Christ child in Bethlehem. Last week, God is shown in the torn heavens, loud voice, and dove at Jesus’ baptism. “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” Today, Jesus is revealed as the one who comes to fulfill Scripture and do miraculous things. It’s important to understand that, as we learned last week, through his baptism Jesus has been anointed for a purpose, one that will unfold as we go. Jesus is on a mission from God.

As we can see in today’s texts, these disclosures of God’s presence in Jesus produce various reactions. Throughout Galilee Jesus was praised for his teaching and preaching, until he came to Nazareth where he was met first with skepticism and then rejection. Then, at Gennesaret, Peter responds as many do in the presence of the Holy Other: he falls at Jesus’ feet acknowledging his own unworthiness, not for what he has done, but for who Jesus is. Yet, the most intriguing response is the most understated one: Peter, James, and John left everything and followed him.

In Luke’s version of this story, it’s fascinating that Peter, James, and John leave everything and follow Jesus on their own. It’s only later that Jesus will tell his disciples to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow him. Yet, even a little reflection astounds us (and frightens us) with the magnitude of their response. On one level, this borders on the insane for professional fishermen to leave behind what must be a windfall to them, two boatloads of fish. Certainly, their response is an external action that reflects some kind of internal attachment and commitment to Jesus. But, what did this radical act of dedication mean for them in terms of their personal and family lives?

Furthermore, the text intimates there is more to following Jesus than leaving behind personal property, because Jesus has been set apart to reorient the world’s priorities when it comes to the poor and others who experience marginalization. As the Jesus story plays out, the disciples will be asked to leave behind their preconceived notions of who are valued in God’s kingdom, to see that all people are included in God’s love and grace. So, the story invites us to ask ourselves: what do we need to leave behind to follow Jesus? I’ve mentioned often how I left the church after Confirmation because I hated the hypocrisy I saw in the church, how people often said one thing and did another. Years later, as I responded to Jesus call I realized that in order to return and follow Jesus, I had to leave behind my own hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes.

I’ve thought about this deeply this past week, especially on a personal level, knowing that there are things I have tried to leave behind that I still carry, and how I am not there by a long shot. But, I’ve also thought deeply what things God might be inviting us as a congregation to leave behind. For example, is there a way we can honor and celebrate our past yet let it go so that we can be about what God is calling us to be and to do, to realize that God is calling us to be something else than what we were? And, is there a way we can explore what God is calling us to be and to do without comparing ourselves, always unfavorably, to other churches? Can we let go of these things?

As we wrestle with these important questions, it’s important to remember that leaving these things behind are not so much requirements for following Jesus as it is Jesus’ invitation to live the life he wants for us. Note that Jesus doesn’t ask Simon Peter to get his act together first and then come and follow. Rather, Jesus meets him where he is, tells him not to be afraid, and invites him to kingdom living. It gets tiring holding on to things that weigh us down, and Jesus calls us to leave those things behind in order to find new life in him. What might Jesus be inviting you to leave behind today? Know that his life Jesus offers is a life of meaning and purpose, to live for something other than ourselves. It’s leaving for good. Amen.

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