Sermons

Third Sunday before Lent
Sunday 4 February at 8am and 10am

Maureen Williams
Readings: Luke 5:1-11, 1Cor.15:1-11

Most of us will remember days in our lives which later have proved to be more significant than others - days when things have happened that have had far reaching consequences for the rest of our lives. It might have been our first day at university or college, our first day at work, the day we met someone who became important in our life, a special friend, our future husband or wife, or the day our child was born. Some of us will also include the day we first made the decision to become a Christian as one of these specially significant days.

For Simon, the day that Jesus called him to a new life of catching people instead of fish was the day that changed his life forever. Life, that had focused on his home in Capernaum and the family fishing business in Galilee, changed on that day, not to the first century equivalent of a 'year-out', but to three years of following an itinerant preacher and the rest of his life telling the world that this preacher was God's Son who had risen from death to a new life in which all are invited to share. Simon's life changed so completely that his name too was changed - to Peter.

In today's world, we might say that Peter was 'head-hunted', spotted and ear-marked for the job. Jesus was looking for people to follow him, people he could train to be part of his team of disciples and he needed the right men for the job. Peter was to be one of these men - rough, tough, impetuous, not, perhaps, the choice that we would have made. But Jesus wanted him at the centre of his team. Peter would be the 'rock' on which he would build his church; the disciple to whom Jesus would appear as the Risen Christ before he appeared to the rest. Paul writes, in our first reading from his letter to the church in Corinth, 'Christ appeared to Peter and then to all the twelve.' Jesus saw his potential.

In C. S. Lewis' book, 'The Magician's Nephew', the children dive into what looks like an ordinary pool of water but find that it is the pathway into another world. This was Peter's kind of experience. Fishing was familiar, but this time, fishing opened the door into a new and very different world. On the day that Peter left his nets, he began a new course in spiritual life-skills. On the way, like us, he would make his share of mistakes.

These verses are an action story about fishing and the miraculous catch of fish is an action parable that teaches us a lesson about outreach. At both levels, it's a story about change - the change that Jesus wants to make in people's lives.

Peter's life had to change from expert fisherman to a new calling of finding and catching people for God. For fishing, he had the experience and the equipment. He was the one who had worked hard all night - and yet, he had caught NOTHING. His skills were not achieving the right result.

Sharing our faith isn't just about using our best human skills and communication techniques, or even about our enthusiasm or hard work. What makes the difference is the presence of Jesus. The lesson for Peter, and for us, is that when Jesus is part of the enterprise things are different. Jesus changes the story. He did it when the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana; he did it when he calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee. He does it here with the catch of fish from Peter's boat. Jesus' presence can change the equation in every circumstance of our life.

John Wesley learnt a similar lesson. He wrote in his diary about his time in the American colonies - labouring, as he describes it, 'in vain and for naught'. Then, he suddenly discovered the secret of living and serving, depending on his Lord. He wrote in his diary, 'I understood it not at first. I was too learned and too wise.' He had laboured in his own strength and now he recognised the need for change.

Jesus' call to fish in deeper waters is an analogy of what he wants to do in people's lives. He wants to take us into a deeper and more personal commitment to Himself and as His disciples, we are confronted with the need to change.

I always take heart from the thought that this change will be gradual. Paul wrote to the Colossians, 'You have taken off the old self....and put on the new self, which is BEING RENEWED in knowledge in the image of its Creator.' Our spiritual life-skills will be learnt on a journey of faith.

Humanly speaking, we may be reluctant evangelists. We may doubt our abilities in sharing our faith. We may believe, like Peter, that we are not up to the task. But God calls all his disciples to fish. He shows an amazing confidence in His Church to give the work of making disciples to people like you and me. So, if we are the people who have been to the lake-shore, heard Jesus' message and accepted His call to believe and follow Him, then we are the people who are expected to share the message with others - not because we are able to, but because God is able. We may find change difficult, but God is able to work a change in us to enable, even us, to witness for Him.

All our stories about change will be different, but the principle will be the same. For some of us our Christian faith will mean a change of job or home - for Peter and his wife it meant coming to Leeds; for Jane Shaw, our missionary link, it has meant a new life in Pakistan - for many of us it will mean staying where we are. But for us all, it will mean living a new life for Jesus.

Some of us will wear crosses or put fish badges on our cars to show that we are Christians. Peter, Simon and Lesley wear their clerical collars. But the main way we are to be recognisable is by the way we live. It is our behaviour and our attitudes which are to make us stand out from the values of the world around us. In this new life, Jesus invites us to join in his family fishing business, the church, and in it, we have the job of attracting people to Him.

The next ten, twenty, fifty years and more will tell the story of St Edmund's: the significance of our faithfulness in following Jesus and the consequences of decisions that we are being called to make about our church buildings and grounds.

Peter found the step into deeper waters of commitment alarming and so may we, but we are called to make them with the encouragement of the words that Peter heard on his life-changing fishing trip, of Jesus saying to us, 'Don't be afraid.'

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay