We all
know those times in this life when even the smallest amount of good news feels
like a tiny ray of light in the darkness bringing a glimmer of hope that things
will get better. We seem to be in one of those times right now. Isaiah
and the Psalmist, and a reminder in Matthew of the words of Isaiah, bring us
the reminder that THE Light is always there even when we feel lost and
are sinking into the shadows. The Psalmist asks if the Lord is
our light and our salvation whom shall we fear?
In our everyday reality, of course, we do have very real fears and
worry and anxiety about the many things that impact our lives locally and
beyond. It is in such times that we are to at least try to summon even a
vague intention to seek a sign of God’s presence. As we look for that wee beam
of light within us, at least a fragment when faith is wavering, and embracing a
bit of faint hope, we are able to begin to take a shaky step forward each day into
the always unknown.
Paul speaks to us in our own time through his letter to the Church in
Corinth: be in agreement...no divisions among us...be
united in the same mind and the same purpose and even more appropriately
now, he warns us not to divide Christ. How many Christian denominations try to out
shout one another as the only source for the "true" message of Jesus?
How incredibly difficult is it to heal divisions in political opinion let alone
in religious? Yet it is in these often dark and scary times, in a world
seemingly gone mad with “legal” violence in action and in words, that we are
called to put aside our ideological differences and follow the simple message
of Christ's Gospel: love God, love our neighbors as we are to love ourselves,
proclaim the Gospel ~ Christ’s good news of the kingdom ~ in
all we think, do, and say (the thinking part may be the most difficult). We
must be aware and wary of creeping idolatry of individuals, places, and our
even our own expectations of Sunday worship or any personal mindset if
it excludes or diminishes the very
elements of our Gospel imperatives.
Jesus
called the soon-to-be disciples away from their fishing boats and nets to
follow him and become fishers of people. Yet there is an important piece of the
story that is usually overlooked ~ Zebedee, father of James and John, stays
behind mending the nets. It doesn’t mean that he and the others on the fishing
crew didn’t believe or want to follow but rather that each of us is called to
use the gifts we have been given in different ways. Some are called to teach
and preach, some are called to stay behind mending the nets to catch the fish
to feed and support those who are in the fields or the kitchens or elsewhere.
Some days and weeks and months and years are
better than others. The nets can be full or nearly empty. The fields can be
brimming for harvest or drowned or dry. The car runs well or breaks down on a
busy day. The death of a loved one, suddenly or expected, brings grief and
turmoil. In the darkest moments of life when our inner nets are torn and faith feels
weak, we can urge ourselves on to search and catch the Light within ourselves
however faint and distant it seems. When we allow ourselves to be reeled into
the net that Jesus has cast for us, the Word can inhabit and change us and
begin to attract others to the splendid shore of Christ’s love. We'll catch
more, or lose more, by our ways and attitudes in the face of daily life choices;
we don’t have to be perfect or thoroughly devout, just hopeful in our search
for faith itself or in its strengthening.
Whether in the grocery line, on Facebook, or
driving in traffic, it is always better to bring the light and respond in love
than to bait the hook for a snark attack. Sometimes, actually quite often, what
annoys us about others reflects what we feel about ourselves. We tell more to others
about us in how we think, say, and act toward others. We know that loud bullies
are cowards in disguise while some of the quietest people we meet do so much
good behind the scenes and say nothing about it. We all, at some times more
than others, reflect outwardly what we feel when we take a peek at our inner
mirrors ~ joy, anger, judgment, apathy...
We trip, we fall, we get up, and then,
sometimes with difficulty, we start over. We pull in our nets, restore and fortify
them, and cast them out again. Let’s begin again to repair and modify the nets
of our own thoughts, actions, and words, our judgments, and our frustrations,
by working to seek and feel and accept the Good News of the Kingdom within
us. How often do we internally dismiss the joy and the love we receive from
others because we don’t feel worthy? How does that keep us from feeling the wide
embrace of Jesus? Even with only a glimmer of hope and the faintest of faith,
we can meet our Christ on the shores of our souls. Stop for a moment, breathe
deeply then begin casting wide nets to catch the true meaning of being loved by
Jesus. Then as we sail on by the breath of God in Christ, and the Holy Spirit, loving
our neighbors AS we are to love ourselves, and then to Follow the
call of Jesus again, in earnest. Are you coming?
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ Oh Lord of Light and Joy, with You as our strength whom
shall we fear? As you have caught us up in the safety of your nets, energize us
to beckon the world to your shore, proclaiming the Good News of Salvation in
our every thought, word, and action.
Lord
Jesus Christ
RESPONSE:
Unite us to you in mind and purpose
~ Oh Lord of Light and Joy, inspire and transform all who
govern the peoples of this World, this Country, and this Community, to
legislate with integrity rather than a rod of oppression, ensuring peace,
equality, and sustenance for the well-being of all humanity and the protection
of our planet. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Lord Jesus Christ
Unite
us to you in mind and purpose
~ Oh Lord of Light and Joy, heal the hearts, minds, and
bodies of all who are ill, weary, or in anguish, and give comfort to all who
offer care. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add
your own petitions
Lord Jesus Christ
Unite
us to You in mind and purpose
~ Oh Lord of Light and Joy, the gloom of grief begins to
lift when our hearts remember that You joyfully embrace all who live again in
Your glorious and eternal Paradise. We pray especially for… add
your own petitions
Lord Jesus Christ
Unite
us to You in mind and purpose
~ Oh Lord of Light and Joy, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add
your own petitions
Lord Jesus Christ
Unite us to You in mind and purpose
~ O Lord our God, hold fast in Your embrace all who
lead us in Your Church as they guide and walk with us in Word, Sacrament, and
Faith, away from false gods and always to You. We pray especially for: add
your own petitions
Lord Jesus Christ
Unite
us to You in mind and purpose
The Celebrant adds: Oh Lord, our Strength and our Salvation, endow
us with the faith and fortitude to find Your constant Light within us even in
the darkest of times. Empower us to remember and return to follow You whenever
we go off course, in the highest and lowest tides of this mortal experience. We
ask through Jesus, the Captain of our ship; and the Holy Spirit, our Divine
Navigator; who with You are our One God, now and forever. Amen.
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