Epiphany 5 C + Fishers of People + 2.6.22

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Isaiah 6:1–8, (9–13); Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11; St Luke 5:1–11)

 

In the 2013 movie “The Haumāna,” we are introduced to a performer who is emceeing a generic “Polynesian” show in Waikiki and has lost his way, drinking heavily every night. When fabulous bartender at his local watering hole tells him that his “auntie” or the teacher who taught him to Hula is dying, he goes to her side and after some resistance is permitted to meet with her. She asks him to promise her to prepare the group of young men from the high school she has been teaching the hula for the Royal Hawaiian Hula Competition. Which he does. But he does not know how to teach, and at first the young men think he is a joke. They smell the alcohol on his breath and offer him gum. They insist that he learns the traditional chant to welcome them to hula class. In the course of their classes, he takes them to the ocean and the forest to connect with the natural settings where the Hula Dance was developed and to connect with their Hawaiian culture. But in the meantime, he begins to re-connect with his culture and realize his responsibility to the community, not just to himself.[1]

In today’s readings we see themes of responsibility to the collective. Isaiah is called not for his own glory but is humbled- literally experiencing burned lips to purge his sins and prepare him to serve God and God’s people. Paul mentions the many apostles called by Jesus and himself as the last and least but also the hardest working, by God’s grace. Peter, after taking Jesus out to preach at a distance from the crowd, has to humble himself as a professional fisherman to trust in Jesus’ direction after his own efforts at fishing all night have failed. And his humility in trusting and following Jesus’ commands is rewarded with a ridiculous catch of fish – enough to almost capsize two boats! Which is enough to scare him a bit. It would me. But Jesus says, it isn’t about the fish. We are here for the people.

One commentator, speaking on this passage, muses on the fact that Jesus directs Paul to look to the deeper waters.[2] What un-plumbed depths have we not explored? During the pandemic, I think we have waded into deeper waters than we had expected before. And in this time, we have seen people having to make decisions. Decisions for how to live and follow God’s will in uncharted waters.

Decisions for our children and for ourselves. These are weighty things and each choice, no matter how we decide could have long term impacts. Not making a choice is also a choice. For example, I chose to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as I was eligible because I am a fisher of people. I need to be able to be safe for others to be around. And in order to do that I needed to get the vaccine, at least the way I figured it. It was my small act of self-humbling, as well as wearing the mask, so that I could continue to serve others with as little fear as possible.
In the paper every day we see people needing to make decisions as to what is best for themselves and their families. Parents deciding about vaccinations for their children and legislators deciding about whether to impose those vaccinations. These are complex issues as in some cases some people do have side effects. However, the data that we are seeing clearly demonstrate that the negative long-term effects of having COVID – on children or adults, people who are medically sensitive or not- can be severe. It is true that thankfully many in our congregation have not experienced those long-term effects if they have gotten infected. I thank God for that! But I am mindful that a congregation in our diocese is burying a two-year-old who doctors are saying likely had COVID.

How do we determine God’s will as we make these challenging decisions? First of all, be kind to yourselves. These are stressful times. None of us living have been through something quite like this. Yes there are marvelous stories of folks who were babies during the Spanish Flu but they were infants, and therefore not charged with making difficult decisions. We must care for ourselves and remember that we cannot serve our community or our family or God without first checking in with our own needs.
But at the same time, as Christians we cannot shirk the decisions that face us. Therefore, we must prayerfully contemplate- of the decisions in front of us, what is most life giving not just for me individually but for the whole community around me? There is a lot of talk of individual choice in this time but I think individuals sometimes forget that their decisions affect the collective good. Our conclusions may not be the same as we pray over this. But if we honestly pray and ask God’s guidance through this time I think that we will be guided and be able to see a way forward. We will know the answers by seeing what brings health, abundance and peace to all around us. If an action can endanger others, let us rethink it. At the same time, let us challenge our fear. Is it from God? Does it encourage us to care for ourselves and others? Or does it paralyze us? Can we set aside some fears in order to be present to others in our lives while still taking common sense measures based on our individual situation?

In our Bible Study this week, we discussed- how do we know God’s will? And the truth is, unless we have Jesus standing in front of us giving us instructions, or hear a heavenly instruction as did Isaiah, we can’t know for sure. But we can pray, listen deep in our hearts and look at the evidence in front of us. And in all that God will show us a path forward, of abundance. Because God’s desire for us is a ridiculous catch of abundant life. So that we desire to reach out to others in community to share the Good News.

Amen.

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[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172133/. The Haumana, 2013 dir. Keo Woolford.

[2] Kendra A. Mohn, “Comentary on Luke 5:1-11,” https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fifth-sunday-after-epiphany-3/commentary-on-luke-51-11-6.