Rev. Dr. Bary R. Fleet - Pastor
February 4, 2007 - 5th Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 6:1-8
1st Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

I Choose You!

It doesn't always happen, but the three lectionary readings today have a remarkable thread running through them. Isaiah goes to the temple and, while sitting there, hears God's voice. He had a powerful religious experience. The experience had two components: the first was an experience of God and the second was a profound sense of his own sinfulness. "Woe is me, for I am lost; I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips." (Is. 6:5a)

In Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he reminds the congregation that Christ died for their sins, and that he was buried and was raised on the third day -- all in accordance of the scriptures. Then he appeared to a group of 500 people, most of whom were still alive at the time of his writing. Then the risen Christ appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all he appeared the Paul, who refers to himself as the least of the apostles ... one "untimely born" who persecuted the church of God.

Here are the same two themes: an experience with God and an awareness of one's own sinfulness.

Then we have the story in Luke of Jesus standing beside the lake teaching. The crowd was so numerous that he ended up borrowing a fishing boat and teaching from the boat. Afterwards he told the fishermen to let down their nets into the deep water. Peter responded that it was pointless. They had fished all night and caught nothing. But -- because Jesus told them to, they did ... and their nets were full to the point of breaking. Simon realized that he just had a religious experience, that through Christ, he was in the presence of God. With that awareness, Peter falls down on his knees and asks Jesus to go away from him ... "for I am a sinful man." (Lk 5:8).

We might not have the kind or dramatic experience that Isaiah did ... or Peter .. Or, maybe it is there, but we miss it. Who knows what really happened with Isaiah? What we know is that he was in church ... and he heard God speaking ... and he responded. The same with Peter ... he was just doing what he was told to do ... and he saw something amazing - and in a moment he knew that God was involved.

Today, I would invite us to look for God in the ordinary -- particularly in the sacrament of Holy Communion. I would invite each of us to consider our own unworthiness, our own sinfulness -- the times when we know we have missed the mark, the times when we know we have fallen short, the times when we know our behavior has disgraced our identity as one of Jesus' disciples.

I would invite each of us to be open to God's presence in the breaking of the bread. As we take a piece of the bread, let us be mindful of the miracle of bread -- from the seed that is planted to the making of the dough. Let us be mindful of the sunlight and the rain, the soil and the farmer ... the baker and the merchant.

And as we take the cup, let us think about the grapes, the vine, the images from scripture that tie us to Christ ... and let us know that ALL of our sins are forgiven ... that we are loved by God ... that God has called us to be his people ...and there is not one of us that God can't use.

As we accept the invitation to share in the sacred meal, let us know that we are loved, that we are forgiven, and that we are useful in God's work ... and let us do this in all humility!