They Left Their Nets

A Sermon for the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany (A – RCL) 2011, offered by Nathan Ferrell for Trinity Episcopal Shared Ministry

Texts: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1,4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23


There was an energetic pastor of a church somewhere down south who preached an enthusiastic sermon one Sunday about serving in the Army of the Lord. He called on everyone present to enlist in the Lord’s army, to be willing to lay down their lives to protect and advance the kingdom of God.

As usual, this pastor stood at the door after the service to shake hands with the congregation. He was feeling quite bold this Sunday, so when one particular fellow, who was not a regular, came to shake hands, the pastor eagerly drew him aside and said, “You, my friend, need to join the Army of the Lord!”

“But I’m already in the Lord’s Army, pastor!” he responded. So the pastor questioned him, “Why then do I only see you once or twice a year?”

The parishioner glanced around him quickly and then leaned in and whispered to the pastor, “Shhh! I’m in the Secret Service! OR I’m on an undercover operation!”

My dear friends, it is the unfortunate truth that we have far too many people who are working undercover, so to speak.

This has brought us to a point right now where we find ourselves, as a Christian community, walking right now down a dangerous path. Imagine, if you will, a snow- and ice-covered path through the mountains. It is only a few feet wide. There is no handrail to hold onto to. Only a few rocks sticking out of the ice here and there on one side. On the other side is a steep ravine, falling away hundreds of feet. The wind is howling. The sunlight is fading into dusk. There is no one else around in sight.

For me, this is a good visual image of where we find ourselves right now. How did we get here in this dangerous place? We did not walk out onto this path on purpose. As a church, we did not choose to begin a course that has led to continuous decline in our membership, in our financial strength, and in our influence in society at large.

We did not intentionally choose this path. However, nonetheless, this is precisely where we find ourselves today. Today – right now – we are all together facing the possibility of continuing decline and even the potential for closing our doors for good in the not-too-distant-future.

Just look around. Ask yourself: where is the next generation? Where are all of the young adults in their twenties and thirties and forties who we need to step up and provide the leadership and base of support needed to carry us forward?

(We have some / there are some here – praise God! But there are not enough, not here nor anywhere else within the Diocese of NJ.)

The situation is not entirely bleak, of course. With determination and effort, and the guiding help of the Holy Spirit, we may yet maneuver our way out of this dangerous position. But to do this is not easy, and it will demand much from all of us who are here today. Let me explain.

Energy and passion is always contagious! When you love something – whatever it is, you can’t help but to tell others about it, to share your joy with someone else. Take a moment and think right now about those things in life that you love which you learned from others when you were young. Think of the infectious love for something or other which you contracted from another, whether a parent or a sibling or a favorite uncle or maybe your best friend growing up. You possess that love and joy today because they shared it with you, whether directly or indirectly. What are these things that you love now? Go ahead and name them out loud.

Great…Well, here’s a secret for you, my friends. It’s no different in the realm of faith! More often than not, young people catch the same kind of enthusiasm and joy that is shared by the significant adults in their life.

You may have seen the notice about our ONE BOOK study this Spring here in the Diocese of NJ. All together, we will be reading and studying this book entitled Almost Christian: What the Faith of our Teenagers is Telling the American Church. This book is a response to the ground-breaking 2005 National Report on Youth and Religion, the most rigorous and comprehensive study ever of American teenagers and their connections to religion. Many of our Diocesan leaders met yesterday, along with Bishop George and the author of this book, to discuss the implications of this study in small groups.

This 2005 report is a veritable treasure-trove of useful information, but one of the most immediately interesting findings is that the vast majority of young people mirror the same faith that is practiced by their parents. Contrary to some popular beliefs, statistically speaking, most young people do not reject the religion of their parents. Just the opposite: most are willing to believe what their parents have believed.

And that - right there - is where our problem lies. You see, most of our young people will have the same faith and devotion and commitment that they see in the everyday lives of their parents.

So the message for us is clear: if we are to reverse our deteriorating situation, then we simply must fall in love with Jesus. If we truly and deeply love Jesus, and if our young people see this love and devotion within is, it will be contagious and it will be caught and carried on in their own lives.

When Jesus walked along the shore of the sea of Galilee and called his first disciples to come and follow him, he called them to leave everything else behind. And so the text states that they responded with incredible commitment. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

But for what purpose? To what new life did Jesus call these men? “Follow me,” he said to them, “and I will make you fish for people” (Matthew 4:19).

“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” The call of Jesus to us here today is no different. He loves the people out there who are hurting and struggling and who feel hopeless and alone. And he is calling us today to join him in fishing for them. That’s why he feeds us, so that we can be strong in fishing for others! The hooks that we cast are those of love and commitment and devotion. And if we are faithful in casting these out, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we might have the privilege of seeing lives transformed and added to the growing kingdom of God. Amen.