Living Without a Net [Epiphany 3A - Matthew 4:12-23]

 The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson

Matthew 4:12-23

 

Living Without a Net

Not at St. Mary’s, Springfield Center

 

There were no high school guidance counselors in first century Palestine.  Andrew and Peter were not fishing for opportunities on LinkedIn.  They were fishing for fish in the Sea of Galilee.  That was their destiny.  And they likely never gave it a second thought.  They were born to be on the water: brothers in life, partners in a fishy business.

 

And there were no career fairs in first century Palestine.  James and John were not rubbing elbows with corporate leaders; they weren’t networking.  They were working on their tattered nets.  So that they could get back out there and catch some fish.  That was their destiny – one they likely never gave a second thought.  They were born into the family business.  One day they would captain Zebedee’s boats – and their sons would drag the nets ashore for mending.

 

Four men in the same trade, on the same shore, of the same sea.  It was not a glamorous vocation, fishing, but it was enough to support a family and keep them out of trouble.  Before they entered this mortal life, life was already laid out.  They never had to wonder.  No one ever asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up.  It was a given – a moral obligation, even.  Without a limitless world of options before them, they avoided entirely the hard work of discernment and the stress of the unknown.  They possessed precious clarity.  They knew from infancy what they were called to do: fish…for fish.

 

And then one day, Jesus decided to take a walk on the beach.  And there on the beach, he saw some men fishing, going about their business.  And he thought, “I am going to invite these guys to take a walk with me.”  Now, I know this from personal experience: it is hard for adult men to make friends.  To his credit, Jesus is really putting himself out there.

 

While he was walking, Jesus even thought of a good line: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  It worked.  But honestly, I cannot imagine that that line made any sense to Peter and Andrew.  Perhaps, it is possible, I suppose, that they immediately understood the spiritual implications of Jesus’ statement.  If so, good for them.  I’m impressed.  However, if they took the statement literally, I’m not sure what they thought the three of them were about to do.  Regardless, they immediately left their nets and followed Jesus.

 

Now, there are three men taking a stroll on the beach.  And while they are walking, they see two more guys, also brothers, also with fishing nets.  In this story, Jesus has a type.  And so Jesus decides to try it again.  Once again, he is putting himself out there.  He knows that if they say yes, he has doubled his friend group.  Pretty good.

 

We don’t know if Jesus uses the same line; Matthew doesn’t tell us.  The Gospel only says that Jesus called them.  But again, whatever Jesus said, it worked.  Four new friends in one day.  Five guys, walking the beach, nets in the rearview.

 

After a life on the shore, they all just walked away.  The Gospel says: “immediately.”  So without hesitation.  The nets were their destiny.  They were the only option.  They were security and stability.  And they didn’t even sleep on it. 

 

The nets were not only for fish.  Those nets were safety nets.  The nets were carefully situated between those men and rock bottom.  Their fathers took to the sea to provide daily bread for those children. Also, they took to the sea to assure that those boys never had to worry about the future.  They were set up.  And then, without hesitation, when Jesus walked by, they walked away.

 

They risked a good life for the chance to do something great.  And it was a risk.  It is easy for us to look back and applaud their faith – because we know the rest of the story.  We live on this side of Easter Sunday.  But Peter, Andrew, James, and John did not know the rest of the story.  They had no idea about Jesus.  He was a charismatic stranger with leisure time, walking around while they worked.  Jesus was not a safe bet.  He was a leap of faith – without a net.

 

Jesus doesn’t call us to hedge our bets.  He calls us to follow him into the vast unknown of the future.  He calls us to risk something good for the chance to do something great.  The disciples immediately took the chance.  That is not easy to do.

 

We live in a dangerous world, in a fraught time.  And Jesus, like he does, is walking right into the mess, calling us to follow him.  And it is Jesus, and so I know we want to drop our nets and follow.  And to do those things immediately.  But I also know that it is not easy to lay down the safety nets of our lives.  It just isn’t.

 

It demands of us tremendous faith; it demands that we place our lives in wounded hands; it demands that we place our trust in the one who leaves footprints in the sand.  Following Jesus is not just a walk on the beach.  The disciples found that out.  Following was nice, until it was hard.  They started by the sea, but there were crosses on down the road.

 

But by the time the shadow of the cross caught their eyes, it was too late.  The Jesus who met them by the sea had hooked them.  Before they fished for people, Jesus had fished for them.  His love had transformed their lives, interrupted their reliable routines, reshaped their destinies.  Jesus gave them a purpose beyond their cautious expectations and the small dreams of their birthrights.  Jesus called them to a life so meaningful, so great, that it was worth leaving the nets.  With Jesus they found a calling, a higher calling, so great it was worth truly living for, even worth dying for.