Gone fishing!
From Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Gone Fishing!
23 January 2011 The Revd Alison Camplin
- Psalm 27:1-10
- Isaiah 9:1-4
- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
- Matthew 4:12-23
Today is the third Sunday after the Epiphany-Season of Light. In our readings today that image of light continues. We hear how the light does not just light up but it also brings change and transformation to a situation. As we go through darkness, as we experience pain and anguish the light helps us to experience a new day. The Psalmist tells us that the” Lord is my light and salvation… The Lord is my stronghold.” It gives us confidence to trust in God, a God who is faithful, and a God who is our light.
In Matthew’s Gospel today we hear the start of how Jesus, the Messiah, the light to the world, starts his ministry and the call to the fishermen to leave their nets and follow him.
I have always fancied putting up a sign on my door saying “Gone Fishing”. If my family’s effort on fishing is anything to go by I could be away for a very long time. The fish always seemed to miss our lines and end up on the lines of the people next to us. Though, at times, I have found fishing to be very frustrating; at other times I have found it to be very rewarding. All my fishing experiences have taught me many lessons which I am finding useful in daily life. They are the same lessons the brothers Peter and Andrew and the other brothers James and John learnt as they went fishing for their living. Once they dropped everything to follow Jesus the fishermen would have found these lessons enriched and empowered their daily ministry.
They were four fishermen accepting Jesus’ call to become “fishers of men” and follow Jesus giving up the security of their jobs, their families and homes. Even though the call was very costly for them, they responded with obedience. These were not special men with special spiritual gifts and abilities. They were not chosen by Jesus because of their great faith. As we follow their three year journey and training with Jesus, what we see is that they made lots of mistakes, learned lots of lessons the hard way, and had lots of doubts along the way. Just like we do but knowing and following Jesus changed their lives forever.
One of the many questions their families might have asked is Why? “Why follow Jesus when you know it would mean having no income and having to accept food and lodgings where you can.” The families might see it as a call that seems to offer no security. Like the fishermen Jesus’ call on our lives is costly as we are asked to be transformed and transforming. Jesus call is one that transforms people and communities, it is a way of life.
It is a call that does not happen just once in our life time. We are called to be in different places, in different worshipping communities, to accept new tasks, or let go of some tasks. We are called to forgive, and called to say sorry. We, as a Cathedral community, are also called. Some ministries change, some stop and new ministries start. One example of this is the new Tots’N’Tunes. This is a weekly music and movement group for preschoolers and their parents. This group will replace the fortnightly Bumps and Babes. Another example is the Blue Sky Dreaming. This will provide an opportunity for us, together, to do some dreaming, some listening to community, and listening to God, about the future use of the Loaves and Fishes.
This call comes in many different ways. It can come slowly over many, many years, or dramatically like the fishermen. Whatever way it comes Jesus does keep nudging. We, like the fishermen, have no idea where it will lead but we do know that God is with us revealing little by little. Andrew, when he dropped everything that day would not know that he was going to end up as patron saint of three countries. (Scotland, Greece and Russia.) He just knew that he had to answer Jesus’ call to drop everything and follow.
As they followed Jesus the fishermen would have put into practise the lessons learnt fishing. Fishing, spreading the Good News, healing, and teaching require the same techniques.
The first lesson is patience. It takes patience to wait for the fish to bite. It takes patience to transform and to be transformed. We need to be still, to listen and learn to wait. To realize that things happen in God’s time not ours.
The second lesson is having the right equipment in good working order to catch fish. We need to know the bible, have an active prayer life as we walk alongside and serve others.
The third lesson is to know where to fish and cast our line. Some times where we are fishing there are no fish. But we need to persevere and not get discouraged. When nothing seems to happen we must be ready to try again. That is the same as we reach out to others and the community.
The fourth lesson is to have courage. At times fishing is dangerous. The boat can be small and the sea or lake large. There is a risk from the fury of the waters and the gales. It takes courage to do God’s work. We will suffer from set backs, and discouragement but we need to have the courage to continue and not give up.
The fifth lesson is having an eye for the right moment. We need to use the right bait to catch the species of fish we are fishing for. As we do ministry we need to know the needs of the people we are serving, the needs of our local community, we need to be spending time listening to people and to God.
As our reading from Isaiah reminds us the great light lights our way. Jesus is that light that guides. Just as the fishermen answered the call, Jesus calls and guides our decisions. We, both personally and as a Cathedral community, all have to make small decisions or large decisions; we all come to crossroads in our life and we ask “What next God, what way do I need to go”? We can not do things on our own or in our own strength.
We have to trust and believe in Jesus, the light of the world. The light that gives us hope, and the light the gives us love as we journey together knowing and listening to God.
