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Sermon: The Second Sunday after the Epiphany (A) - 16th January 2011
St Alban's Anglican Church Epping 7,8 &10 am
Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-14; I Corinthians 1:1-11 John 1:29-42
Today’s readings provide words of encouragement for those who seek to be faithful in challenging times, especially when the pathway ahead is obscure. Take heart, God has been with you from the very beginning, God was moving in your conception, and God will guide you through every season of life.
The prophet Isaiah provides his listeners with words of vocation and blessing, grounded in his own experience of God’s affirmation despite his insecurity about his calling. Like many spiritual leaders, and preachers, throughout history, Isaiah asks, “Who am I to speak for God?” Yet, in asking the question, the prophet discovers that God’s call began with his conception. In the intricate interdependence of life, divine guidance and energy have inspired the prophet’s journey.
The call of God, personal and intimate, evolves from womb through childhood and into adulthood. The shape of God’s call constantly changes. Indeed, we have as many calls as moments or relationships. Yet, certain calls persist over a lifetime, evolving as we grow older and have new experiences. These calls are not coercive or all determining; God does not determine every important event in our lives without our input. Rather, God’s call through the many events of our lives seeks our input and creativity. Along with God, our priorities and decisions shape our calls over a lifetime. Our creativity and freedom, rightly used, enables God to be more creative in our lives.
Ironically, in the midst of confessing the futility of his work, the prophet discovers that God has greater things in mind for him. God’s call always pushes to the next step and then the next, inviting us to be more than we can imagine.
Psalm 29 joins gratitude with witness. The Psalmist proclaims God’s rescue in a difficult time. While we don’t know the nature of this distress, the Psalmist proclaims that discovering God in the darkness gave him new life and a new song. From now on, he will sing God’s praises, witnessing by his life and testimony.
In Corinthians, Paul encourages a small community through the affirmation that they have everything that they need to be faithful and flourish in their mission. This passage can be read in light of the gifts of the body of Christ, cited in I Corinthians 12: “for in every way you have been enriched in [Christ]…. you are not lacking in any spiritual gift.” Within each of our lives, there are five loaves and two fish that can feed a multitude!
The encounter of the Jesus with his future followers speaks to the nature of good news sharing in our time. Jesus asks John’s followers, “What are you looking for?” Sharing good news begins with a question, with awareness of the other’s deepest needs and values. It assumes that God is already here and does not need to be imported from the outside. It is not coercive but invitational and relational. As Andrew said, “Come and see”. What will people see when they come to our worship or share in our congregation’s life? Will they see vitality and spiritual depth, or half-heartedness? Today’s seekers are looking for experiences of God, authentic faith and commitment; they are looking for a church with imagination, creativity and love.
Teaching and preaching, indeed, even relationships without an agenda, can be transforming. Jesus’ new friends proclaim, “We have found the Messiah”. We have found what we’re looking for, and we want to share it with you. Of course, we don’t know the nature of the conversation that led to their transformation, just as we don’t know the difficulty that the Psalmist faced, but we can assume that in both cases God’s vision was personal and fitted the situation, grounded in the deepest needs of all concerned. Epiphany calls us to let our light shine - size, age, health condition, or previous experience does not disqualify us from being good news bringers. In fact, our witness is the reality of our lives in their complexity, the reality of God’s blessing bringing us to a new place, giving us a new song, and providing a way where there was no way.
Reflect for a moment upon those places where God’s presence in our lives, or our faith in God, has saved us from a difficult place and where we have found meaning and purpose. Also, extend your reflection to consider questions such as: Where is God currently at work in this community? Where God is seeking transformation in our community? In what ways, does this challenge us to share good news with those seeking God and meaning and purpose and others who are refugees from oppressive religion?
This sermon was based upon one by Bruce Epperly found at www.processandfaith.org/lectionary