February 9, 2025

 Today, Jesus helps some fisher folk overcome some obstacles and invites them to begin a new chapter in their vocation.  He is meeting them where they are, on the sea, with their boats, washing empty nets after a long day of catching nothing.  Jesus is inviting them to follow, so they can learn from him, so that they can someday lead.

Many people I talk to don't like the word "lead" or "leader."  They don't consider themselves a leader.  They may be overwhelmed and not want to be asked to do more.  They may have experience with a leader who misused his or her power.  Similarly, the disciples are offering up reasons they might not be ready to lead, limitations they have experienced that may cause Jesus not to want to call them.

They offer up their past record as an excuse.  “We have been fishing all night and caught nothing,” They say.  What has happened in the past is lifted up as a reason that it won't work this time. 

We look to the past to inform what might happen today, of course.  But what happened before is not absolutely what will happen this time.  The context has changed.  The main difference being is that Jesus has commanded they give it another try, and is encouraging them.  That is a hope for us, when what we have done has failed, doesn't mean that we are failures, and it doesn't mean it wouldn't be worth it to try again.  Do any past church barriers or limitations dictate what the people of Trinity are willing to try, or what you are willing to try?  As I have asked some folks to be on Council they inform me of past difficulties.  I can't promise they won't happen again, but I do try to build good communication and trust so that we can talk to each other when warning signs emerge and prevent trouble and anxiety.  Another good strategy is to remember all the good that has happened in the past.  These fisher folk have had a lot of good catches in the past and they will try again when the time is right.  Jesus is just saying here, the time is right, you are not alone and your failures don't define you.

The disciples offer up their present circumstances as ones that may prevent them from being a follower or leader.  Peter says, "I am a sinner."  We all know our personal shortcomings well.  Will we be up to the task and be able to follow through on what we commit to?  It is a good question to ask, about our own capacity, our time, our gifts, our current state of readiness to learn and be challenged.  Jesus replies that there are no other kind of leaders than sinners, since all fall short of the glory of God.  We only have people who make mistakes, so let's sin boldly together and not sin by sitting in a corner and denying our God-given gifts.  We will make mistakes.  We will try to learn from them.  We will have grace for ourselves and each other.  And we will fill in the gaps for each other so that where one person's gifts are not rising to the occasion, another can cover that need.  Jesus, in fact, covers all our sins by his death and resurrection, so we don't have to dwell on our sins when we are called to follow and to lead.

Finally, the disciples have fears about the future.  Jesus can see it in their faces and he reassures them, "Do not fear," he says.  He's like all the angels to ever talk to a human, "Do not fear, I bring you good news of great joy!"  :"Do not be afraid, Joseph, to take Mary as your wife."  Again and again the angels remind people not to be afraid.  The word angel means messenger.  The message being shared is life- changing.  That's scary.  And that's good because life can't stay the way it is, not for Mary or Joseph or the shepherds or the fisher folk or us.  We are constantly called in our vocation to serve God to do challenging things that will help us know who we are, help us connect with others on their Christian journey, and help us to see and share the light of Christ.

Jesus is calling these people to leadership, not to gather glory and power for themselves, but to give it away.  Lutherans have answered this call for hundreds of years, to give away their power to feed the poor, care for the orphan, and welcome the refugee and immigrant.  This week Lutheran Social Services was called a “money laundering operation” by Elon Musk, and targeted for defunding through the closer of USAID which distributes funds to enable this good work.  A court has since intervened, but we don’t know for how long. Lutheran Social Services was serving foster children, hungry people, and legal immigrants trying to make a new start.  They were doing what the federal government asked them to do, serving those most in need.  They got out of the boat and followed Jesus to bring light and healing to the world.  I hope you will join me in condemning this falsehood and calling for the most vulnerable to be served, because Jesus said, “Just as you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.”  He called us to follow him to be fishing for people.

I invite you to listen to where God is calling you.  You may consider your shortcomings, past, present, or future, but don't forget the good that can come, too, when you step out of your boat into the unknown of following Jesus.