Epiphany 5 C Finding Heroes

 Epiphany 5 C Finding Heroes

February 7, 2010

By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell

On March 17th I have been invited to be the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Red Cross

Heroes Breakfast. Because I saw a connection with “heroes” and today’s proper’s, I titled this

sermon, “Finding Heroes.”

If we were looking for heroes, where would we look? We would first have to ask, what or who is

a hero? My dictionary defines “hero” as one who defies danger, exhibits bravery, and is daring

and courageous.

Occupations like Fireman, Police and the Military come quickly to mind. these men and women

have to find the courage to put themselves in harms way. We read and hear of their heroic

exploits every day. Yet, when they tell their story, they will inevitably say, with all humility, I

was just doing my job. I just did what I was trained to do.

At one point in my college days I became, after much instruction and practice, a WSI – Water

Safety Instructor (WSI’s teach and certify people who want to be life guards). I was very proud

of that accomplishment and was eager to get my WSI patch sewn unto my bathing suit. Then one

day as I was walking along the beach on the shores of Lake Michigan, it accrued to me, that if

someone out in the water was yelling for help, people on the beach would see my WSI patch and

expect ME to respond. It was then that I realized that along with the training, certification and

privileges, comes the RESPONSIBILITY!

The heroes that we all respect are those who take their responsibilities to heart. I’ve learned that

being responsible is not a given. At times I thought it would be helpful if all college diplomas

had two little boxes to check. One would say, “Uses common sense,” and the other would say,

“Is responsible.”

Our growing children seemed to have a natural resistance to the word responsibility. We would

barely be into one of our “guidance” lectures when they would say, “Oh no, here it comes!”

Because they know that we were about to say, “What about your responsibility?”

The question for all of us is, how are we going to respond with the gifts that God gave us? And,

how are we going to respond responsibly with the abilities we have acquired?

The gifts of Paul’s thought in today’s reading from Corinthians is, let’s not let the grace that God

has given us go to waist.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gets the attention of Peter, James, and John by guiding them to a “net-

breaking,” “boat-sinking” catch of fish. These fishing pros recognized that they are in the

presence of a man with extraordinary wisdom (they heard His teaching), and a man with powers

beyond their understanding.

This man, this extraordinary man, Jesus, invites all three of them to join His ministry. They,

without hesitation, find their spirits compelled to enlist in a wholly different kind of fishing.

Fishing for men and women to know Jesus. Fishing for men and women to meet and know this

remarkable teacher, whose all-inclusive love and grace energizes a freer and more abundant kind

of life.

That is the life we enjoy and are privileged to share. We are the people with love to share. But we

also know that bringing people to Jesus is the hardest – easiest responsibility we will ever

embrace. It requires gentle persistence, and faithful patience. One evangelist said, “It’s like

having a thousand answers for one-thousand-and-one questions.”

Sometimes our “fishing” will not see results. No teacher would survive unless they truly believed

that others will reap what they have sewn.

One poet put it like this: “I poured out my hear to my beloved, and the next man she met, took

her with a sigh.”

My heroes are those who find the courage of their convictions, and then act as they believe one

should act. Mother Teresa is one of my heroes. [Read – “Do It Anyway” – version credited to

Mother Teresa]

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you re honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them

anyway.

G.W. Curtis wrote: “Heroes in history seem to us poetic because they are woven into history’s

big picture. But if we should tell the simple truth of some of our neighbors, it would sound like

poetry.”

To live well is the quiet routine of life, to fill a little space, because God wills it, to go on

cheerfully with a petty round of little duties and little avocation; to smile for the joys of others

when the heart is aching – who does this, his works will follow him. He is one of God’s heroes.

Navy Chaplin’s wear a cross on their sleeve as a constant reminder of their vocation.

Our allegiance to our vocation as Christ’s Fishermen is seen only as we do what we have been

called to do. We are called to share the love of God.