Anything Good

Anything Good Second Sunday after the Epiphany - January 17, 2021 - 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) - Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 - John 1:43-51 "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" That's our guiding phrase from our gospel text for this week. "Anything good?" Where have we heard such words lately? Can you can hear the sarcasm in that question? Can you hear the prejudices tucked away in that question? Maybe you have some pre-conceived notion based on race, ethnicity, social status, monetary abilities? During this past year, most of us have experienced social isolation due to the COVID virus. Many I know have been isolated from scripture as well. We feel cut off; we feel alone, as though no one understands what we are going through, as though no one cares that we are struggling; we are hurting. So, we develop that layer of cynicism, a sarcastic streak that keeps the world at arm's length to protect ourselves. And we hear even less of a word of hope because that is what we have come to expect. That's the attitude that seems to be reflected in one of Jesus' disciples. Well, before he became a disciple anyway. Nathaniel appears only here in the Gospel of John. Some scholars think that the Bartholomew mentioned in the other three gospels is Nathaniel. William Barclay even argues that Bartholomew is a last name, translated as "son of Tholmai." So, his name might have been Nathaniel Bartholomew. Maybe. Others argue that Nathaniel wasn't even a real person, but rather a representative of a human trait of pride and prejudice and the need to listen for the call. It's hard to tell really, but it is obvious that there is something of significance going on here. "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" The Word of the Lord was rare in those days. We don't know why Nathaniel said what he said. Maybe he just wanted to be left alone, didn't want to be bothered by Philip and his new best friend. Maybe he really thought anyone from a hick town like Nazareth wouldn't have anything of significance to say to him. Maybe he had given up the search that Philip was still on. Maybe he had decided he didn't need a Messiah after all. He was doing all right on his own. But was he? Are we doing all right on our own? Most of the time, we think so. Most of the time, we are content with the world as it is, with our lot in it. Most of the time, we are grateful that things aren't any worse than they are. And the Word of the Lord is rare most days. Every now and then, we ache to hear that Word. When we let down our guard, in our heart, we long to know and to be known. We want so much more of life than we settle for most of the time. We want our relationships to be deep and satisfying. We want those we love to trust in that love; we want to live the fullness of that love. We want someone to know us, all our weaknesses and strengths, all our beauty and ugliness; to know us and love us still. It almost sounds like fantasy, doesn't it? Such knowledge, such love is not possible in this world, a world where the Word of the Lord is rare. So, we bury such thoughts, such quiet desperation behind the facade of being all right, of not needing anyone or anything. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Or anywhere for that matter? Well, yes, it can. Out of Nazareth can come the one who knows and who loves still. Out of the darkness of the night can come the voice that calls us by name. Out of your church filled with hypocrites and sinners can come a sense of family and community that remakes us. Out of your house can come a trust and openness that gives you that sense of home you were created for. From surprising people can come unconditional love that builds us up and makes us whole. We all need a wakeup call from time to time to keep from sleeping through our own lives. It is a call to hope. Speak, Lord, your servants are listening. Because something good is coming to us. Or rather, something good is already among us. Let us claim it, even as we claim our call to be what Christ has called us to be. In the end, the question "can anything good" come from those unlike us, gets turned around to be asked of us, "can anything good" come from within us? Is there anything good in us that is worth God's grace and Christ's compassion? Can anything good come from the faces that I see in front of me?" And the answer should be a resounding yes! Yes, there is good even in us, as flawed as we are. There is the good of the image of God in which we were created, and God's grace is available to restore us. Let our prayer be that our eyes be opened to see the good in those around us and the face that stares back at us in the mirror. O God, you spoke your word and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ. Fill all creation with that word again, so that by proclaiming your joyful promises and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples, we may become one living body, in your presence on the earth. Amen.