Pastor Timo’s sermon,
Jan. 27, 2008
3rd Sunday
after Epiphany Matthew 4:12-23 1/27/08 translated by
Katja Kupari
In today’s gospel Jesus shows up exactly where He is especially
needed, to a nation migrating in darkness. At the same time, a
hundreds of years old prophecy of the prophet Isaiah about the
promised Messiah, the freer of the nation, came true. According
to the gospel, most of Jesus’ miracles happen in the land of
Galilee, among the pagans and people estranged from faith (Matt
11:20). The gospel of Mark tells how ”the whole town” of
Capernaum (30,000 people) was there to see Jesus perform
miracles.
There is a high number of miracles and signs in Galilee and many
difficult sicknesses are healed through Jesus. According to
modern standards Jesus’ activities are newsworthy enough for the
media and become the number one topic on the alleys, bazaars and
homes. In spite of the great interest people have for Jesus’
miracles, the towns in Galilee are scolded by Jesus ”because
they did not repent”. (Matthew 11:20)
I was recently watching an interview with one of the
presidential candidates where the candidate was telling how he
had asked a voter what he could do to earn this particular
voters vote – and if it would help if he himself served coffee
for the voter. The voter gladly accepted the offer, but as soon
as he was done with the coffee, he made his way to the competing
candidates booth to register.
Getting the message of the church, the gospel of Jesus, through
to people, is in many ways faced with the same challenges than
the presidential candidates campaigning throughout the states.
In some states their message sticks and is accepted by the
people right away. In other places the same candidates message
is not received, not even if he uses up all his tricks and
advertising money to reach his voters.
In today’s gospel Jesus and His disciples put a lot of emphasis
on their work in the towns of Galilee, an area relatively small,
but with a great number of people in several small towns. Using
modern terms one could say that it is Jesus’ strategy to go to
the people, to where they live. His work and agenda are also
wide-ranging; healing the sick, miracles, lessons about God’s
Kingdom and proclaiming the gospel in the towns’ market places
as well as in people’s homes. It is obvious that Jesus’ and His
disciples’ work has a goal, but the result is yet different from
what they had desired. People are interested in Jesus’ work and
accept the healings and the miracles, but do not turn to Jesus,
personally repent of their sins and believe in the gospel.
The hardness of heart, not listening to God’s word, in the
Galilee area that takes place in the gospel can happen anywhere
in the modern world, in Finland as well as in the U.S. In this
state and in this city, in this part of town as well as this
church, too, and for us to receive Jesus’ words the way they
should be received, it can happen in our hearts, too.
Comment cards and surveys often offer the following choices;
”strongly agree, somewhat agree, not sure, disagree, strongly
disagree”. Although there is a difference between an opinion and
action, it is obvious that a strong position on an issue most
likely can lead to actions in support of the issue. If the
people of Galilee had been asked if they thought that Jesus'
work was valuable, many would have most likely checked the "very
valuable" or at least "somewhat valuable" box, but based on the
facts that took place there the most likely answer to the
question ”would you be willing to believe in Jesus’ message and
follow Him?” would have been ”not sure”.
In this sense being close to God’s word challenges us to look
into our own hearts. Where do we stand now, do I want to listen
to God and receive His word. Or is it just that I, for some
reason, do not respond to His word. If this is the case, it is
no doubt a good thing to pray for God to work in ways that bring
His word alive to me. And maybe sometimes we have to let got of
something to receive something instead. Often it is how we use
our time that matters. I recently read about a research on the
prayer-life of the American pastors. The research says that a
pastor prays and quiets down for 3 minutes during a day, on
average. The three minutes with God is certainly so-called
quality time with God and should not be dismissed, but I believe
that us pastors, as well as the congregation live on prayer and
God's word, and our deeds and attitudes arise from what we hold
dear. If we don't find time for God, in this time that He has
given us as a gift, it is hard to think that God can talk to us
and help us grow the way He would want us to.
Today’s gospel would not be a gospel if it didn’t show what God
can do in us humans. Although today’s gospel did not gain a
strong foothold in Galilee, although no real breakthrough took
place, it was specifically Galilee where Jesus called His
disciples from. Peter and a few other fishermen as well left
their nets and followed Jesus. What looked like a small seed
when they were called by Jesus, grew into a big tree very
quickly, after the disciples set out to proclaim God’s word to
all nations. What did not flourish in Galilee, soon flourished
in many other towns and countries.
So if you sometimes look at yourself and think that you are
”just a small and simple human being, what could God do in my
life or use me for”, remember that Jesus’ disciples, too, were
ordinary people. What changed their lives, and through them the
lives of thousands of others, was not their own excellence or
abilities, but the fact the God called them. ”Come,
follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
(Matthew 4:19). So then Jesus Himself promised to make something
out of them. And every time God calls, He Himself takes care and
provides with His gifts.
And this call is still offered to us all, and it does not have
to mean leaving for missionary work, changing your profession
and location, but a daily change in your own heart, where we
agree to accept God's word and give Him permission to do in us
what He wants.
Christians are urged to renew body and mind. To change and to
turn around in ways aiming to become like Christ, like the kind
of picture of God that He uniquely created and meant. A great
deal of things that are beyond our understanding take place in
this everlasting unity where people change and God remains the
same. God wants to call us to join Him, to His love.
The reason for reverting, for the change of mind of Christians
then is not fear or judgement, but love.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”
(1 Joh 4:16, 18)
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