Epiphany 5 C Faith is Action

 Epiphany 5 C Faith is Action

February 5, 1995

By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell


The season of Epiphany invites us to focus on God’s revelation of His presence and power in

Jesus Christ.


The announcer might say, let me remind you that when Jesus was born, three kings showed up

and honored Him with gifts. And, remember when this same Jesus was baptized by John… a

voice from heaven proclaimed, “This is my son, whom I love, with Him I am well please.”

Then, don’t forget this… he changed water into wine, AND then in His home town synagogue,

He identified Himself with Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah, “This very day, the work of the

Messiah, that Isaiah foretold, is happening before your eyes!”


In summary, what we have been looking at these past four Sundays, is the awesome light of

God’s Ultimate Self-Disclosure in Jesus Christ.


This Sunday’s Gospel story again reveals the power of Christ with the ‘Great Catch of Fish,’ but

along with the miracle, there comes a challenge, “I will, says Jesus, make you catchers of

people.”


In other words, if you have experienced something that has impressed you here… kings on their

knees, a heavenly endorsement, water into wine, Jesus identifying Himself as the Messiah,

enough fish to nearly sink two boats (at noon when nobody catches fish). If you have discovered

something of value here, it calls for a response. Every response will be different.


When Peter, realized that he was fishing with a man with godly power, he couldn’t stand being in

the presence of that much holiness. He said, “Get away from me, for I am a sinful man.”


We can only speculate on what Peter may have been thinking. “Why, in the world would this

holy man want to have anything to do with me? I’m a fisherman. I drink my wine, curse with the

worst, and I’ve been in my share of fights. I don’t attend many social events because our kind is

never invited.”


Then Jesus looks at Peter and says, “Don’t worry about all of that, from now on you will be

catching people in the net of god’s love.” We can almost hear Peter say, “Yeah, sure… who is

going to pay any attention to the likes of me?”


Becky Manly Pippert, author of a book on evangelism, titles, “Out of the Salt Shaker: and into

the world,” pointed out that we were not called by God to be hunters of people, but fishers of

people.


We are not out to ‘kill’ people with the Christian faith, but we are sent to win people into a

relationship with a loving and forgiving God.


Jesus knew that there is much more likelihood of success if we are willing to take a more indirect

approach, along with a reasonable measure of patience.


Soren Kierkegaard said, “That one does not begin ‘fishing’ by saying ‘I am a Christian; you are

NOT a Christian.’ All this does is put people on guard. In effect it says “I’m right,” and “You’re

wrong.” If you will just believe the way I do you will be acceptable to God, and be saved. To

start off in the name of Christian evangelism by saying “Believe in Jesus” or else (go to hell) is a

sure way to create resistance.


Tragically there are evangelists who start off wondering, “How many people can I offend

today?” they number ‘converts’ as though they were counting scalps for Jesus.


I believe we can do better than that without even trying. One thing that pops out in our everyday

conversation is what is of value to us. A movie we love, a book that moved us, a recipe that

pleased a teacher that inspired. We are like treasure hunters that have found something of value.

In varying degrees, we are all treasure hunters.


The next time we find ourselves in a conversation that has the world going to “Hell in a Hand

Basket.” What would be wrong with simply sharing that no matter how troubling the news, or

how awful the times are that we are living in – that your experience with a forgiving, loving and

life-changing God has been of value.


The truth of the story is that one way or another, God help us, we live out every day of our lives.

It is of value to me, it is priceless treasure to me, to be able to live out each day knowing that I

am forgiven – knowing that I am loved – and knowing from my experience in the body of God’s

family that people have found, and continue to find… the power to change.


Faith comes to life as we move out in response to God’s prompting.

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