January 22, 2023

9 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

on them light has shined.

3You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

4For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Revised Common Lectionary 1-22-2023: Third Sunday after the Epiphany

NEW TESTAMENT

1 Corinthians 1:10–18

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Revised Common Lectionary 1-22-2023: Third Sunday after the Epiphany

GOSPEL

Matthew 4:12–23

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16the people who sat in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death

light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Notes:

Jesus begins his ministry after John the Baptizer was arrested -> Jesus withdrew to Galilee first (his turf), moved out of Nazareth (moved out of parents’ basement?) and transitioned to Capernaum (A new place, new opportunities…)

He called fishermen - a simple invitation, a gracious invitation to the work of the kingdom. He called them as they were.

Jesus gets to work - proclaiming through words AND actions

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Good morning and welcome back at St. Stephen’s! First of all, a word of thanks to all that chose to attend St. Luke’s Holy Closure last week - I have heard it was really meaningful for those gathered that St. Stephen’s could show up in such a number. A word of welcome for all visitors that belonged to St. Luke - you always have a place here.

Today’s gospel text is perhaps quite appropriate for the week after Holy Closure. It is a text full of transitions and hence ABOUT transitions.

Jesus does not just begin his earthly ministry out of the blue, slapping his knee and saying Well..like some Midwesterner trying to leave a houseparty. If you know, you know (wink). Oh no, there was a sequence of events. His cousin John the Baptizer is arrested by the authoritiees as many prophets and messengers of God before him (authorities really do not wish to see the truth widely disseminated if it does not serve their purposes). Upon learning about that, Jesus withdrew to Galilee, his home turf, left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum. Interestingly enough the word for leaving (kataleipoo) is this same one used in the 19th chapter of Matthew in the now infamous and often misused quotation about marriage:

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 19:5.

Which then can makes us wonder - is Jesus moving out of their parents’ basement? In his late young adult years, at least according to our times?

For marriage? No, as far as we know. School? Nah. To live out his calling? YES! *ding ding ding ding*

He moves there to fulfill a prophecy from Isaiah and then he begins to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Revised Common Lectionary (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009).

New place, new opportunities, and new people to share it all with! He takes a stroll by the Sea of Galilee and recruits Simon, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, fishermen by trade, graciously inviting them to take part in the ministry with one sentence:

Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.

These days, I think even a job description for a temp job at McDonald’s have more words than that! And they have accepted. After that, he began his ministry in Galilee, “teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” In other words, he got busy fast after moving out of his parents’ house.

In just one short text, so many transitions related to God’s activity happen and I think it is very telling. When John was arrested, Jesus knew it was time to get out there and do the work of the kingdom. The arrest wasn’t a happy occasion, especially if we consider that John will lose his life in some weeks as God’s martyr. But it was a stepping point in God’s activity in the world that led to the activation of Jesus’ earthly ministry, which was a rather GOOD thing, an excellent thing, a blessed thing…at least for the people, if not for those clutching the power over the people. Jesus left his life as he knew it and his earthly family behind and got on the road.

He made his mission known and then he recruited other people - to some perhaps surprising bunch - quote and quote simple fisher men. He called them as they were, did not impose any tests or requirements…the only thing required is the willingness…Just like I like to say that all are welcome at the table of the Lord and that the only requirement is to wish for communion! No checklists or questionnaires, no age requirements or educational pamphlets read.

And then they got to work together, living into the transition of itinerary life, moving place to place, ministering to people in the name of God in many ways.

The Holy Closure of St. Luke’s was a sad occasion, there is no doubt about that and now the people of St. Luke enter into a transition…not one they ultimately desired, but I bet John would also prefer not to be arrested. However, if Bible conveys a message repeatedly, it is one that there is hope in transitions, however awful they may seem. Not only death and resurrection, but also an exile and freedom, bondage and liberty, uncertainty and a heading.... I am sure many stories come to mind.

At St. Stephen, we have a unique opportunity to witness such hope in a transition as we accompany them in their complicated grief, transition, and exploration. Let us lean into it and be present to it - for one way or another, we all experience loss and the need to transition.

Jesus, I think, provides some pointers to how to handle transitions:

start with the familiar - he went back to Galilee, his turf

make meaningful changes that will enable you to transition - in this case he moved out of his home to go where he is supposed to go

Don’t walk it alone but search for companionship that can share the burden with you - he really started his ministry AFTER he called his first disciples

And finally and perhaps most importantly, commit to the transition - perhaps he dwelled on John’s arrest a little bit, but then he leaned into the transition.

I am sure he of all people knew that his Father is with him through it all and that he will be empowered to do so. And so are we all, whatever we struggle with and whatever transitions we face.

Friends in Christ, let us, lean on God and each other as we go through life and let us be attentive to those that need to be accompanied. We are all in this together and God is with us. Amen.

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