Year A 6th Sunday after the Epiphany

Text Matthew 5:21-37 – Being Heart Smart

Heart care has been one of the biggest concerns in recent times.

It is a combination of the food we eat and the lifestyles that we live that has caused great concern for how we are living our lives.

Foods are cooked with lots of fats and sugars and salts all of which place strains on our hearts.

Smoking, drinking and technology has caused concern for people’s health particularly with obesity and the strain it puts on our hearts.

The problem is that we find it is so hard to break out of that lifestyle.

People look for quick ways to resolve their health issues.

A tablet that blasts away fat.

A fad diet that allows you to eat and still lose weight.

We think that if it says – fat free – or 99% fat free – low salt or diet coke – we think we’re eating healthily but it’s just not true.

We look for products that are “heart smart” or carry the heart foundation Tick of Approval.

But in the end there are no short cuts or easy way out.

It takes hard work – sacrifice and dedication to turn one’s life around.

Jesus is also concerned about the condition of our hearts in today’s Gospel reading.

And likewise there is no easy fix to the problem.

It takes hard work and there are no shortcuts.

There seemed like there were shortcuts before Jesus came onto the scene.

The commandments seem cut and dry.

How many times haven’t we used the line -

I’m not a bad person – at least I haven’t murdered anyone!

But Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not murder'; But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment;

Why does Jesus take this approach?

How is anger the same as murder?

Don’t we all get angry?

Didn’t Jesus get angry? (Mark 3:1-6)

Jesus sees sin as a progression.

It begins in the heart and continues into actions.

As Jesus once said:

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45)

And so Jesus is attempting to get back to the source of the problem.

To fix the heart of the issue – if you’ll pardon the pun.

Just as there is no short cut or easy way in changing one’s health situation, likewise when it comes to our spiritual health there can be great pains at time.

And just as there is a great feeling when one’s health returns so too there are great blessings from a restored spiritual life.

Jesus is not introducing a new list of rules, but the intentions of the law.

Last week Jesus said I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfil them. Until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law.

The intention of the law is to love God with all our heart and our neighbour as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40)

What is intriguing in this situation is that it appears Jesus is speaking not to unbelievers but to believers.

He talks about anger against a brother or sister.

He talks about resolving that anger before you bring your offering to the altar.

He’s talking to you and me!

We are to be the benchmark and living examples of love and forgiveness.

If we can’t show love and forgiveness to one another, how can we expect the world who doesn’t know God to show that love and forgiveness.

We can bring our offerings here today and give thanks to God for all he’s given us.

But the greatest harvest thanksgiving we can give is by presenting the true harvest we have reaped – the love and mercy of God.

It is often in the church where anger can fester like an infected wound, which is why Jesus is so concerned about the state of our hearts.

It is so easy to be hurt or offended in the church.

We say the wrong thing – we say something the wrong way – we hear things the wrong way – we let our frustrations out on people who had nothing to do with the situation.

We can bring all the gifts to feed all the poor and hungry but it fades into insignificance if we have something against a brother or sister.

All the years of good work in congregations can be undone in the blink of an eye by hurting a brother or sister and refusing to seek forgiveness or refusing to forgive.

Remember what St Paul says in 1 Corinthians – the love chapter:

If I give all I possess to the poor but do not have love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).

What Jesus asks of us is not easy.

When we are hurt it cuts deep into our hearts.

And sometimes the cure can hurt more than the affliction.

To forgive someone can hurt more than the hurt they caused you.

To forgo vengeance can hurt more than the original injustice to you.

To admit you were wrong and seek forgiveness can hurt.

As Christians we are challenged to lead by example.

Listen again to what Jesus says:

When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against YOU, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

Jesus is challenging the one who is hurt to make the first move, just as God did:

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

He also says to ‘do it quickly’ because the longer we allow the hurt to fester, the more anger it builds up, and the more harm it does.

And the greatest harm is to our spiritual lives and our relationship with God.

St Paul says:

As long as there is quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?

It’s difficult, but not impossible – as Paul says:

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

We have a choice on whether to extend love and forgive or to continue to show anger.

Moses gave that same choice to his people in today’s Old Testament reading:

I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the LORD by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways then you shall live and the LORD your God will bless you. But if your heart turns away you shall perish; I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Since creation God has put choices before us which we are free to choose.

Adam and Eve chose to set their hearts against God.

Cain set his heart against his brother and his anger turned to murder.

We too have that choice – to forgive and be forgiven.

Or to harbour anger.

Sadly we often take the latter – it’s easier.

But it just causes more hurt to ourselves and the ones we love when we make that choice.

A wise proverb says – "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."

Jesus is not watering down the 5th Commanding but intensifying it.

He does the same to the 6th Commandment regarding adultery bringing it back to the heart and what it does.

Christians are called to go that extra mile in setting up an example of right living.

Sin creeps in wherever it can find room and that begins in the heart.

Lust turns to adultery.

Anger turns to murder.

Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfil it.

Jesus came to call and form disciples as examples of righteousness by fulfilling the intention of the law.

It’s easy to follow the letter of the law, not always easy to follow the intention of the law.

We follow the commandments not because they are rules;

We follow the commandments so that we can be people formed for life in the kingdom of God.

That’s what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer – “your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven”.

The greatest Harvest Thanksgiving we can present is to become people who are pure in heart, so that we might love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind, and that we might love our neighbour as ourselves.

The peace of God that surpasses our understanding keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Year A 5th Sunday After the Epiphany

Text Matthew 5:13-20 – Pass the Salt.

It doesn’t matter if you go to the local take away or to the finest restaurant, they have something in common.

They will have salt there for your food.

It doesn’t matter if you buy the minimum chips from the fish and chip shop - $3.00 or so, or if you’ve spent around $60 on a juicy tender steak, you’ll have salt there for your tasting.

It might come in one of those cheap paper satchels, or a crystal salt shaker, if it’s not there you’ll ask for it.

It doesn’t matter how much of a celebrity chef you are or if you’re an assistant in the local takeaway, salt will be a vital ingredient.

I love walking into the local fish n chip shop and smelling the salt being shaken onto the freshly cook chips.

You get that tingling feeling on your tongue which is an unbelievable sensation.

Without salt food will taste bland.

Food manufacturers load our food with salt, especially junk food, because they know that our body craves it.

And it doesn’t matter how much salt the food has in it already, we’ll reach for the salt and just give it a little sprinkle.

It’s no wonder that Jesus uses salt as an image for Christians in today’s Gospel reading.

“You are the salt of the earth” (V13).

As Christians we make a difference in the world.

It might not seem that way as much of the world either rejects or ridicules us.

But we are like that salt that sits on the table –insignificant until needed.

We’re not the focal point, but if it’s not there something is missing.

Diners haven’t come into the restaurant because they’ve heard they’ve got great salt in there – but they will reach for us at some point.

We often misread what Jesus says believing this is a command.

Jesus is not telling us to be salt in the world.

No, he’s telling us that we are salt in the world.

It can be very discouraging trying to live out our faith in our daily lives.

It seems that morals are a thing of the past.

When we try to express any sort of decency we are ridiculed and reminded that this is the 21st Century, not the 18th Century.

The challenge for us is to not be discouraged in our faith and to not stop being examples of good and right living.

Paul encourages us:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9).

Salt has many qualities that it brings:

Salt brings out the flavour of food.

As Christians, we too can bring out the flavour of life.

We have the greatest news of life – that we are loved unconditionally by God.

So many people search for meaning in life and we have it.

That God, in his unconditional love for us has assured us of our eternal life in heaven.

Being salt in the world is not about correcting people’s behaviour.

That’s not what salt does to food.

Salt doesn’t correct food – it enhances it and adds flavour.

But, if you put too much salt on food it will ruin it.

And if you consume too much salt, you will cause harm to your health.

So we should be careful – we can be moral but we shouldn’t moralise.

Being salt is about bringing out the flavour of life not altering it.

Salt is also a preservative.

Salt will enable the preservation of the good that might otherwise be lost.

So too we are called to live moral and ethical lives.

To preserve decency and morality in a world that believes we can do whatever we like.

It doesn’t matter if people think our views are irrelevant or outdated.

It doesn’t matter if everyone else is acting in a certain way – we don’t need to.

We can be an example of righteous living.

But sometimes salt will sting.

If you’ve got a cold sore or a cut in your mouth, the salt will sting as it touches the open wound.

So too, sometimes by our standing up for Christian principles it will sting the world.

It may even sting us.

But that sting is good, because salt also has healing properties.

Salt water at the beach will heal sores on your body.

So too, we can bring healing to the world – but it won’t like it because it stings.

We can lobby, we can complain, we can write petitions if a situation needs it.

We can point out injustices and demand justice for others.

We can live our lives and refuse to participate in the ways of the world being examples of right living.

Jesus also said we are the light of the world.

It’s a similar image if we think of the role that light plays in the Bible.

It was the very first word spoken by God – Let there be light – a word of light that became flesh and lived among us – the light that broke the darkness of sin.

A light that was rejected by the world –

As John says: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:9,10).

As we are the light of the world it helps us to understand why the world does not receive us also.

If we don’t understand that then we will continue to think that the church is failing – that’s what the world keeps telling us.

But could you imagine a world without the church?

The church isn’t a human made community.

Our Mission Statements confirm that:

Ringwood: Living the Word – a people formed by God to be his presence to those around us.

Knox: Called to worship – Chosen to Serve.

The church is the body of Christ and the assurance that God is still concerned for the world.

There is enough wickedness and evil in society for God to bring about the judgment today.

But he’s not going to do that because his church is in the world.

What would neighbourhoods be like if there were no local church?

Where would people turn to in time of need?

Who would bring a word of comfort and hope in suffering and death?

If there were no church and no Christians, what would be the conscience of the world?

What would be the point of living if this is all there is?

God’s light broke the chaos that formed at the beginning of creation.

We read: The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

So too, you are separated from the darkness – but in the world.

And remember, this is the first day – the sun was only created on day 3 – this light is the glory of God that breaks into the world and you are that light and glory.

You are the light, and irrespective of whether the world accepts you and receives you – you are God’s light.

We heard in last week’s Gospel:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.

Many of us feel tired and wonder whether it is worth continuing to fight the good fight.

In the mess of the world, even though there is much good, our call and challenge is to be the people who give the world the right flavour and provide vision through the gloomy times that are inevitable.

Salt isn’t the food: it doesn’t bring flavour to food. 

It enhances flavours already in food. 

If we are the salt of the earth, then we, the children of God, add flavour to creation. 

We enhance the beauty and meaning of life. 

Being a Christian means more than following a moral code. 

It calls us to make the world more flavour filled. 

Jesus calls us let our light shine in our communities so others will see and praise God. 

As Christians we add to our communities as we live out our Mission Statements:

Ringwood: Living the Word – a people formed by God to be his presence to those around us.

Knox: Called to worship – Chosen to Serve.

The peace of God that surpasses our understanding, keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus.

Year A 4th Sunday after the Epiphany

Text Matthew 5:1-12 – Hidden blessings

There has been a lot of publicity in the news this year about something that is called “A King Hit”.

A king hit is when a person throws a punch at someone without them expecting it.

Recently a young man walking the street in Sydney had his life support turned off after one punch knocked him to the ground.

People have asked for it to be called a Coward’s Punch – naming it for what it is rather than glorifying it with the name “King” in the title.

Many believe that society is becoming out of control with much of the violence on the streets blamed on the growing abuse of alcohol and drugs.

In the town of Mildura it is reported that the use of the drug “ICE” is ruining lives with threats from bikies that “we’re going to destroy this town”.

Alcohol and drugs is where a growing part of society believe their happiness comes from.

We’ve even termed many of these drugs as “recreational drugs”.

People want to be happy but unfortunately happiness is a moving object.

You think you’ve found it but then you need something else because it starts to fade.

That’s how drugs work.

Eventually they no longer provide the high and happiness and there is the need for stronger drugs which can lead to overdosing.

We want to be happy.

We believe it is a fundamental right to be happy.

We are often shocked to find out that what we want does not make us happy.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, marketing of goods is based on you continually not being happy so you buy their latest product.

The term used to describe this is “planned obsolescence”.

As Christians we know that God is the only source of true happiness and contentment.

A 4th Century Monk by the name of Augustine described it beautifully when he wrote the prayer:

You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.

Jesus teaches about “blessedness,” a word that sometimes gets translated in modern bible translations as “happy”.

The “blessed” are not the “happy” in the sense used in our culture to describe physical pleasure.

When Jesus describes those who are “blessed,” it’s hard to see “happiness” written on any of these lives.

Jesus begins this teaching, not with promises of happiness, but with promises of blessedness.

But many of these promises are entrenched in difficult human experiences of mourning, meekness, peacemaking, persecution, and poverty of spirit.

Jesus’ promise of “blessedness” only makes sense when our lives are centred on God, as Augustine highlights in his prayer:

You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.

Jesus’ teaching begins and ends with the kingdom of Heaven.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (V3)

Blessed are those who are persecuted … for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (V10)

In Jesus’ teaching “blessedness” does not depend on wealth or health or status, the usual things that make people happy.

Nor is it a feeling in the same way that happiness is.

It is a feeling but it’s a sense of wholeness rather than enjoyment, assured of our home in the Kingdom of Heaven.

So one can still feel blessed while not necessarily feeling a sense of enjoyment.

Compare images of the rich in western developed country and the poor in underprivileged countries and communities.

The rich don’t always seem happy.

Compare them with developing and underprivileged countries and communities where the Word of God has been revealed and see the joy rather than enjoyment.

Blessedness is God’s gift.

It does not promise an abundance of possessions but it promises abundant life.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Even mourning, poverty of spirit, and meekness can reveal this inbreaking of God’s abundant life.

But it begins with our lives first being centred on God.

You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.

Paul, like Jesus, reverses the way God blesses.

The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Where the world sees weakness, God creates strength.

This is foolishness to the world who sees strength in physical terms.

That’s why there is outcry over calling a Coward’s Punch a King Hit.

It would make a lot more sense if Jesus taught the ways of the world:

Happy are those who have lots of money and can go anywhere, do anything, have anything they want.

Happy are those who are successful.

Happy are those who are healthy, or those who have good marriages, or who have perfect children.

I know it’s hard to count blessings when we are going through difficult times

When we are poor in spirit.

When we are mourning.

When we hunger and thirst,

When we are persecuted.

We don’t feel blessed at all.

But Paul and Jesus urge us not to find blessings in overcoming them, but to find blessings that come from them.

To see God at work in them as Paul did:

I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor 12:9)

As we progress through the Season of Epiphany, we remember that the word Epiphany means to reveal.

Jesus is revealing what wholeness of life really means – not what modern society says it means.

It is not wholeness that comes from filling our lives but from emptying them.

Adam and Eve tried to fill their life with worldly gain.

But the more they filled their lives, the more empty they become.

Their eyes were opened to become like God, but through it they lost God.

The kingdom of God is a way of putting your life together.

It is letting God be the ruler of your life.

But not “ruler” in a dominating way but in a protecting, caring and providing way.

Joy doesn’t come from enjoyment.

Enjoyment of life comes from the Joy of being in a relationship with God, as the angels declared at Jesus’ birth:

I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.

Likewise feeling blessed doesn’t come from being happy in life from material blessings.

Blessedness is not a feeling but a state of reality.

You are blessed – you don’t feel blessed.

But when you know you are blessed you feel blessed because your life feels in order with God.

This is not about deliberately taking on the above qualities that Jesus spoke of.

No one willingly wants to be poor, meek, mournful, persecuted.

No, it is about living in God’s kingdom.

It is not about achieving blessedness but being blessed by being in a relationship with God.

Jesus does not tell us that God will be good to us.

Jesus tells us that God is already good to us.

Jesus does not suggest that the kingdom will come someday.

Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God is already here.

From what Jesus says we understand that God wants us to be happy.

That's God's intent for our lives.

What Jesus teaches here in what is known as The Beatitudes is how to truly live a blessed life.

Some of the teachings are difficult – some of them are challenging.

But they are the foundation of a truly blessed life.

Jesus will conclude his teachings with that well known parable of 2 people building a house. (Matthew 7:24-27)

The foolish person builds his house on sand – wealth, possessions, success.

In difficult times these are the first to go.

But the wise man builds his house on rock which Jesus will later explain is the church – On this Rock I will build my church and not even the gates of Hell will overcome it (Matthew 16:18).

Life won’t always be easy but it will always be blessed when it is built on the rock of Christ.

On Christ the solid rock I stand – all other ground is sinking sand.

Year A 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

John 1:29-42 - Preparing for Jesus

At this time of year we seem to hear the same complaints about supermarkets selling hot cross buns and Easter Eggs when many of us have just put away the Christmas Tree and decorations.

What’s your thoughts on it?

Sometimes I think supermarkets have a better understanding than we do about the relationship between Easter and Christmas – although I don’t think their reason is theological.

Christmas and Easter belong side by side.

John, the gospel writer sees that too.

Even though there have been many years that have passed since Jesus birth, in the very first chapter of John he already points out the close connection between Christmas and Easter.

Jesus birth and death.

Already in Chapter One soon after describing the Word becoming flesh, John is pointing to Jesus’ death:

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

As lovely and as sentimental as Christmas is, Jesus was called to a mission that would require his death to take away the sin of the world.

John the Baptist also sees that.

As popular as John the Baptist was with the people, he redirects their focus onto Jesus.

John’s work is done.

John was called to make straight the path for Jesus.

John tells the people that this is the one they should now be following – not me.

“After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me”.

And so we too must constantly refocus our attention onto Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

That is our calling too, like John’s.

To make straight paths for Jesus.

To focus people onto Jesus and his death for their sins.

Now that’s not always a pleasant message to deliver.

I’m not a bad person – why does Jesus need to die for MY sins?

Sure I’m not perfect, but who is?

I’ve seen a few letters in the newspaper encouraging people to stop buying hot cross buns and Easter Eggs because then the supermarkets will stop selling them so early.

My advice – buy them.

Let’s get Jesus and Easter into people’s focus as early as we can – and as long as we can – because Jesus came to take away the sin of the world and we need that now.

In recent times the church has not been so good at focusing the public onto Jesus.

The church has become distracted on other things.

The focus has been on sexual abuse in the church – arguments over same sex marriage – debates about the ordination of women – creation versus evolution – traditional versus Pentecostalism – I’m sure you can think of others.

While these are important issues for many, they can take away the focus from Jesus, the Lamb of God.

We need to make sure that our central calling is to focus people onto Jesus.

John’s focus on Jesus became infectious.

When he cried out – Look, here is the Lamb of God it immediately drew the attention of 2 disciples who began following him.

One of the disciples, Andrew, then went and found his brother Simon and excitedly told him – we have found the Messiah.

When did you last get excited about Jesus that you just had to tell someone about him?

Sometimes our faith can feel a little stale, but it doesn’t need to.

Our faith can be infectious also, but not when our focus is distracted away from Jesus and onto other things.

John tells the story of Mary and Martha with Martha distracted, rushing around everywhere trying to entertain the guests who had come to listen to Jesus.

She became flustered because her sister Mary wasn’t helping.

Mary had decided to focus on Jesus but Martha tried to take her away.

When Martha complained to Jesus he replies by saying:

One thing is needful: and Mary has chosen the better part (Luke 10:42).

One thing was needful but Martha had become distracted by the many tasks she was doing.

The Jews had also become distracted as they waited for the Messiah and as a result missed him when Jesus came.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:11)

They had become focused on the Law and devised 613 laws by which to focus the people’s attention on.

They became so distracted that they had to ask Jesus – which is the greatest commandment – they wanted to be refocused.

Jesus says – love the Lord your God and love your neighbour as yourself.

Love was where the focus needed to be placed.

When Jesus was about to die he reminded his disciples of their calling as his disciples;

Love one another as I have loved you – which is refocusing on the greatest commandment – love God and love your neighbour.

This is the calling of the church.

Is there something that has focused your faith away from what Jesus says is our calling of love?

Sometimes it’s hard to be enthusiastic about our faith.

Sometimes it’s hard to see what is so special about being a Christian.

St Paul today reminds the Church in Corinth just how much they had to be thankful for.

They too had lost direction and focus.

They began to argue about who had the greater baptism – some were baptised by Peter, some by Apollos.

Like the church today, arguments took them away from their focus on love.

Paul brings them back with a word of grace:

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind. (1 Cor 1:4)

This was a congregation that had quarrels and incest and drunkenness just to name a few.

And yet Paul saw God’s grace in them.

What do you see when you look at your life.

Are you able to look past the difficulties you face?

Are you able to look past the negative things in your life and give thanks to God because YOU too have been enriched by Christ in every kind of way.

Maybe you don’t feel enriched at times;

Maybe you fail to see any purpose in life.

Maybe you don’t feel very called by God to do anything.

But listen again to Isaiah:

The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me.

The Lord knew you too before you were born.

The Lord named you in your mother’s womb.

He has called you to be Holy.

A holiness that comes to us not by what WE do but by what God has done for us in our Baptism, by giving us Jesus Body and Blood in Holy Communion, by speaking to us in his Word in the Holy Bible.

And when we go through those dark times, we remember the words of our Psalm today:

I waited patiently upon the LORD; he stooped to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the desolate pit and set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.

Christmas is over;

The celebrations, the gifts, the families, the joyous occasion has ended.

It’s back to work – back to school – back to reality.

And soon we will walk the Lenten journey.

The dark and solemn walk to the cross with Jesus which seems to more resemble most of our lives.

We will enter the darkest period – the death of Good Friday.

But out of the dark there is the light of Easter Sunday.

And from there we will celebrate like we have never celebrated before.

And it won’t end.

Jesus will rise to eternal life and invite you to join him in his glory.

We will experience like Peter, James and John, the transfiguration where the glory of Christ will shine to give us hope.

But like Peter, James and John, until that day fully arrives we are sent back down the mountain to wait patiently for our time to enter the eternal glory.

Until that day we are called to share God’s love and grace with others that others may see that light and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Like Andrew, let us find our brothers and sisters and share the excitement – “We have found the Lord”.

Let our excitement and our faith be contagious so others may catch the excitement we have about being in a relationship with Jesus who has assured us of our eternal home in heaven by dying for OUR sins.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The peace of God that surpasses our understanding, keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Year A 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany

Text Matthew 4:12-23 – Drop everything.

I am always intrigued by the power that a mobile phone has over people.

You can be deep in conversation with a person and if their mobile phone rings they will stop and search to answer it.

They don’t know who is calling them but all of a sudden they are more important than you are.

Or you’re outside and the phone rings and you almost break your neck trying to get to the phone to answer it.

What is this power that a phone call has over us?

I would like to think that God had the same type of power over us when he calls us.

It seems that Jesus did when calling his first disciples.

When he saw Peter and Andrew fishing, he called to them and IMMEDIATELY they dropped their nets and followed him.

As he went further he saw 2 other brothers – James and John, and he called them too.

And IMMEDIATELY they dropped their nets and followed Jesus.

Notice in both situations that there was no hesitation.

They immediately responded to Jesus call just like we do when someone calls us on the phone.

Would you have dropped everything to follow Jesus if you were one of those first disciples?

If God asked you to leave your employment, sell your house, leave your family – would you, could you do it?

It would be different if Jesus were saying – come follow me because I’ve got this business venture where you will make millions.

We’ve seen people prepared to take that risk.

But to leave security and have no idea what’s ahead – that’s a different story.

We don’t always know what will happen or whether we can afford it.

Have you ever experienced what you believe to have been a call by God?

What does it sound like?

How can we be sure it’s from God?

Sometimes we stand at a crossroad and we are waiting for God to call out to us to help us decide what direction to take.

We might be facing a big decision about our employment.

Pastors quite often face that dilemma when they receive a call from another parish.

Pastors are allowed to weigh up that call over against spiritual criteria which is usually their current call to their parish.

But many times that call is weighed up against seemingly non-spiritual matters:

Their children’s schooling.

Their wife’s employment.

Other personal considerations that would make it difficult to move.

Is it right to say “no” to that call or should Pastors, like Peter, Andrew, James and John, drop everything and immediately respond to that call.

I would like to think that our entire life is a call from God.

Every day God calls us to follow him.

We have choices every day.

The problem is that much of our day is made up of routine and therefore we don’t really see our everyday mundane lives as callings from God.

We wake up, have breakfast and then start our daily routine:

Off to work, off to school, off to the doctor, house work.

Read the paper, watch TV, play sport.

Back home, tea time, bed.

Has God had any role in your day?

For many people, that’s the extent of their routine.

Each day God is calling us to follow him but it often doesn’t feel like it.

But we can misunderstand what a call from God looks and sounds like if we believe that it is always a sensational event.

I often get asked how I decided to become a pastor.

I think people are looking for a spiritual journey I took that led me on a soul searching venture.

No – it was a lot more boring than that.

A friend of mine who was studying at the seminary said how good it was and that I should do it also.

So I applied.

I wasn’t unhappy in my work or have this burning sense of calling to become a pastor.

But that’s how God works a lot of the time.

Paul was concerned about the Corinthian Church who had become focused on the Holy Spirit working in sensational ways – speaking in tongues – miraculous healings – prophecy.

And it was causing conflict.

Paul was called to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom.

Paul says the cross of Christ is central and sensational.

How often don’t we read about people’s amazing conversion stories and wish that we too could have that experience.

Or how often don’t people insist that we too can experience what they experience if we had enough faith.

Paul sees it differently.

He says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who don’t understand it.

Sadly even some Christians don’t understand that.

Whenever I see TV evangelists the message is consistently the same.

The more faith you have the more spectacular work of God you will see happen.

The more you do and give to God, the more God will do for you.

If that’s true, I wonder where Jesus went wrong.

He gave his life to God and still cried out – my God – why have you forsaken me.

St Paul gave up his life as a leading Pharisee only to have been in prison, flogged, exposed to death again and again; whipped, beaten with rods pelted with stones, shipwrecked, in danger from rivers, bandits, and even his fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in the country, at sea; often going without sleep, food and water; cold and naked. Besides everything else, he faced daily the pressure of concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

That’s not very spectacular, and it’s not really what a person would drop their nets and sign up for.

But that’s the message of the cross;

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

You are called every day.

Every day you are called to put your trust in Jesus.

You are called to let go of your “nets”.

Your “nets” are the things you usually put your hope and trust in when you things are not going well.

These “nets” can hold us back from experiencing where God is leading us.

One of the biggest nets we need to let go of is our sense that we are not called by God.

Luther says God has called us to a Station and Vocation in life.

Our stations are as parents, children, friends, uncles, aunties, grandparents – we are called to honour God through these stations.

But we also have been called to vocations – our employment and other duties, paid, volunteer, in and out of church by which we can honour God.

Every decision, every action we take, every word we speak is important to God.

No event is commonplace that God is not present with us in them.

God is present in the ordinary, in the normal, in the routine, in the mundane just as God is present in ordinary things - bread, wine, water.

And so the biggest call that we respond to is when we think about the next action we do – the next word we speak.

Is it bringing glory to God or is it bringing him dishonour?

When we speak a word of forgiveness rather than anger – we are responding to God’s call.

When we call or visit a person in need rather than focusing on our own needs – we are responding to God’s call.

When we do our work in an honest way, loving and respect others, we are responding to God’s call.

When we take time to pray for others we are responding to God’s call.

There are many ways in which we respond to God’s call and probably 99% of them are in ordinary, mundane, run of the mill things we do each day.

We might not see them as important but nothing is unimportant to God.

Just watch the excitement of parents when their child takes their first step even though they will take millions in their lifetime.

When they say their first of millions of words they will speak in a life time.

God has the same excitement every time you speak a word of grace or do something to share his love.

Grace comes in unspectacular deeds sometimes, but it is grace nonetheless.

Jesus calls us to leave behind our “old way of life,” to repent our former way of understanding and participating in the world.

Our lives, as well as our everyday tasks will take on new meaning when we see everything we do – even the mundane and routine – as a calling from God.

Sometimes that call disrupts us as we are called to leave behind the ways we find comfortable and are challenged to love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable, but let us remember, that as we follow Christ, he has gone ahead of us to give us strength and hope.

The message of the Christ might seem foolishness at times but it is always the power of our salvation.