Empowered by Grace to Give

Rebecca Sheridan
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Luke 5:1-11

    What is something that you enjoy doing that you would not really enjoy anymore if it were your job, not a hobby?  For example, we know that some of the first disciples – Simon, James & John, were professional fishermen.  I hope they enjoyed their jobs, but I bet they had days, like when their nets came up empty after fishing all night, when they did not enjoy fishing.  I enjoy fishing as a hobby, but I wouldn’t want the pressure having to fish for a living, and I don’t know if I would enjoy fishing as much if I did it all the time.  Similarly, I like to bake and cook, but owning a bakery or restaurant would not be something I would ever be interested in doing; enjoying home-cooking for my family and friends is good enough for me.
    We know that Peter, James and John are professional fishermen and NOT professional religious people; they failed Hebrew school.  Even if they wanted to become rabbis at some point in their younger lives, they didn’t make the cut.  They have at this point given up on ever following a rabbi or becoming one themselves.  Discipleship is just not an option.  Fortunately, fishing was a family business and at least James & John follow in their father Zebedee’s footsteps.  Now this guy Jesus, who is looking like a rabbi and teaching like rabbi, comes along and asks to borrow Simon’s boat to teach.  Then, this amateur fisherman at best (what does Jesus know about fishing?) suggests that they go out into deeper water and let down their nets just one more time for a catch.  Now, imagine what these great big commercial fishing nets were like – how long it took them to bring in, wash & dry out, and fold up to put away for the day before another day of fishing.  These nets are heavy, large and cumbersome.  They have already called it quits for the day, and this guy who appears to know very little about fishing wants them to try again.  “Stick to preaching, Jesus,” Peter could have easily replied and refused the idea.  But the professional fisherman listens to the amateur.  He recognizes that Jesus has some kind of authority at least from God, calling him, “Master.”  And the trust that Peter places in Jesus pays off – two boats are so full of fish they are sinking just a few moments later.
Then, Jesus calls Peter, James, and John to leave their professional fishing careers and “catch people,” to be amateur religious folks following this new rabbi who is performing miracles before their eyes.  They have already been rejected and given up on the religious life.  Peter insists that Jesus go away for he is a sinful man.  But Jesus persists in his call for the amateurs, the rejects, the “C” average students, to follow him and try a new way of living in the world.
I believe that Christianity has been harmed for centuries by the idea that you have to be a “professional Christian” and leave everything else behind to truly be a holy follower of Jesus.  We have many misconceptions in our minds about the first disciples of Jesus including the idea that Peter and the rest of the disciples were somehow holier or more special than we are.  By today’s standards, they were mostly worse, actually.  Uneducated, poor, working class.  In fact, in all of our scripture readings for today, God calls people who feel at first that they are unworthy to serve faithfully.  The great prophet Isaiah, author of the longest book of the Bible, who consistently and courageously preached the word of the Lord, tells God, “I am lost…I am a man of unclean lips.”  How can he possibly answer God’s call or be worthy to serve God?  Well, God uses Isaiah anyway – in mighty ways.  The apostle Paul, author of most of our New Testament, the greatest Christian evangelist of all time, hangs on to the guilt he has of formerly being a persecutor of the early Christian church.  “I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle,” Paul writes to the Corinthians.  Although he studied as a Pharisee, Paul never is a professional, full-time clergy person; he works as a tentmaker to support his ministry.  And despite the mistakes of his past and whatever doubts he has in himself, he points us toward the grace of God at work in our lives that empowers us to do God’s will and serve God.
Our stewardship emphasis for this year has been “Empowered by Grace.”  Today, we are focusing on giving as a part of what it means to be faithful stewards.  Our scripture readings remind us of the natural tendency of people, great people, to hesitate in giving God their all.  We may think we are not good enough or smart enough or that we don’t have enough.  We may think we need to be professional Christians to serve the church.  Like the first disciples, we may be feeling in our personal lives like our nets are empty – there’s nothing to give.  Jesus allows the disciples to see the fish as a gift from God; the small trust that Peter places in Jesus results in abundance.  But also, in trusting Jesus, God renews Peter’s trust in himself and his own abilities to serve God, even if he will never be a “professional, credentialed” Christian.    What does it mean to be empowered by grace to give?  It means first seeing that we can only give because God has first given us abundantly more than we could ever imagine.
We, like Isaiah, and Paul, and Peter, are empowered by Grace to know our purpose, to serve, and to give!  It starts with accepting God’s grace as the greatest gift we could ever imagine, like two boats’ full to the brim of fish.  God’s love and care for us is overwhelming.  Once God opens our eyes to see everything we have and who we are as God’s gifts, our own giftedness, then it doesn’t matter so much whether we’re an accountant or a teacher or a stay-at-home mom or retired or a student; we have gifts to share, we have talents and abilities to serve, we have resources that help us love God and one another.  All of us, regardless of profession, are called by God to be amateur Christians.
Isn’t it something to think that Jesus uses what the first disciples know really well – fishing – and then suggests that he could learn something from them in teaching them to fish for people?!  Our church needs you – not in a few months or years when you maybe know more or only when you’re feeling particularly holy or when you are able to give a little bit more financially – our church needs you as you are, because of who you are!  GOD is calling you right now, as you are.  God needs amateur Christians who use the gifts they’ve been given.  If God can use amateurs like Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, God can certainly use you.  You have been empowered by grace to know your purpose, serve, and give.  Thanks be to God!  Amen!