Fishers of people – A Preacher’s Ponderings

Decision

Third Sunday after Epiphany; 21 January 2024; Epiphany 3B (RCL); Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Psalm 62:6-14; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20.

The first thing I noticed about the readings for this week is that they are all short. And abrupt. Jonah’s sermon in Nineveh has to be the shortest, most successful sermon in historical record — eight words long, and the whole city repents and sits in sackcloth and ashes. Jesus calls Andrew and Simon, James and John, and without question, they leave their nets and fishing, and follow — abruptly. Paul tells us the time is short, and certainly the people in the other readings seem to have heard that message. Act now.

Answering the call

Third Sunday after Epiphany; 22 January 2023; Epiphany 3A (RCL); Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23.

Last week, we heard the call of the first disciples as reported in John’s Gospel. There, John the Baptist identifies Jesus, and disciples begin to follow, and themselves call others. In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus calls his disciples directly, and the stories are a bit hard for us to comprehend. What was so compelling about Jesus’ call, that these people would leave everything behind and follow?