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3rd Sunday after Epiphany — January 22, 2017

Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
Ordinary 3A

This is one of those Sundays when everyone in the pew will be bringing the events of the world into the room with them.

Jill Duffield’s lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlook’s email list every Monday.

Every Sunday when the faithful gather, they enter with worries, distractions, anxieties and hopes. But some Sundays there is no way worship leaders can avoid the elephant in the room – both the one being inaugurated and the ones marching in the streets. Preaching the lectionary helps us on weekends like this one. The larger church, without regard for current events, appointed Isaiah, 1 Corinthians and Matthew. That choice is out of our hands, thanks be to God. No proof texting here.

Given that our choices have been narrowed by that hallowed group that hands us the lectionary readings, what do we do with them on a day when emotions are high, opinions varied and many come seeking a Word in the midst of it all?

Here are three words given to us in Scripture, words to be proclaimed this charged weekend – and, frankly, every day.

Word one is this: God will bring justice for the oppressed. Even those in the deepest of darkness, on them light will shine. The prophet’s promise of hope resounds through the ages and gives us courage to confront all those who believe might makes right and some people are dispensable. The great light of the Lord shines in this little light of ours. Don’t hide it under a bushel. Fear of the dark and darkness is rendered obsolete with the coming of Jesus Christ. Wherever we go, the light of Jesus Christ goes before us, shines through us, burns within us. Trusting the promise spoken through the prophet can be difficult, hence our need to hear it proclaimed clearly and with certainty. Hence, we have need to hear the Word together, so that we can remind one another when our hope and faith is flagging.

God brings justice to the oppressed. Those who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus tells us we are the light of the world. In the words of Amy Carmichael we pray, “Kindle us, kindle us now. Lord, we believe, we accept, we adore. Less than the least though we be. Fire of love, burn in us, burn evermore till we burn with thee.”

The second word comes to us from Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians, and while this word seems especially resonant this weekend, it, too, is a word that never goes out of season.

The word is a series of words, really: agreement, no divisions, unity of mind and united in purpose. Oh, the irony! Oh, the opportunity!

Let’s be clear, Paul does not imagine uniformity. Remember, these new congregations are made up of people from vastly different background and cultures. The only thing that could possibly unite them is their loyalty to and love of Jesus. Something, someone, far bigger than every other mark of their identity must be the focus or they will quickly tear each other apart. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

The imperative to proclaim and live our unity in Christ has never been greater in my lifetime. We must articulate that whenever we are together, it is never just you and me; Christ is always between us (as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in “Life Together“). We absolutely must recognize the ultimate significance of our baptism: Once we’ve been clothed in Christ, there is no longer slave nor free, male nor female, Jew nor Gentile, Republican nor Democrat, liberal nor conservative. Say this over and over again until it becomes a part of you and your congregation: I am baptized, united to Christ, part of the Body of Christ, the church.

We are stuck together. Think of those escape rooms that are popular now; then remember, there is no escape.

Remembering that we have the joy and responsibility of participating in Christ, we are called to look beyond ourselves, our self-interests and our sense of righteousness, and prayerfully seek the will of God – even if the will of God runs counter to all of the above.

I recently read a book review of a book by Edward Dusinberre, first violinist of the Takacs Quartet. The reviewer writes quotes Dusinberre on what happens when things go badly and the group gets out of sync, “At the moment when we were supposed to begin playing the rhythm together I played a two-note figure one time too many. Unsure whether to accommodate my waywardness or ignore it in the hopes I would catch up, my flexible colleagues effected a lethal combination of the two. … We lurched along, now intent on managing one final chord together. After anxious glances around the group Andras seized the initiative, an emphatic lifting of his bow followed by a ferocious nod signaling that whatever anyone else was planning to play, this would be his last note. Our final sounds were almost executed together – a mishmash of scrambled pitches faintly resembling the emphatic E minor chord written by Beethoven.”

So what you say? Well, just like a string quartet, we in the church should be looking at the same composition, and not one of our own creation. Scripture, Jesus and our confessions – what do they say? What part are we to play in the story they tell? How can we make them beautifully manifest for the world to hear? To be sure, there will be times when we get out of synch, “atonal mayhem” being the result. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity to come back together and end on the same note. For that to happen, leaders need to emerge with clear signals and a bold example.

Sounding a note of unity, not discord, based on the Word and Word incarnate will be a witness to the world that even those with radically different backgrounds, opinions, temperaments and gifts have the ability to come together for the sake of a purpose greater than each individual, resulting in something beautiful.

The final word for this week comes from Matthew’s Gospel and it is this: Right now, Jesus is calling disciples to the acts of teaching, preaching and healing. Right now, God’s Kingdom is near and we are invited to follow Jesus and participate in sharing that good news.

Matthew names specific details. We are given hometowns, occupations, family relationships and names of those Jesus calls as his first disciples. Jesus goes to “their synagogues” and Jesus comes to our churches. Right now, we are to be about the work of fishing for people. What does that look like in your hometown? Who are the people? Do you know their names? Where they live? What they do for a living? What do you know about their families?

This weekend as our country rightly focuses on the events in Washington, D.C., we must stand up in the pulpits of our congregations and preach. The Spirit will give us the words. The Bible has given us the words. Jesus will show up. The kingdom is near. We have a purpose bigger than ourselves, bigger than the events of the weekend, bigger than we can imagine and it is this: Proclaim the good news that the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. Now, let the light of the world shine through advocating for justice, living in unity and working toward healing.

This week:

  1. Jesus in Matthew’s text for today focuses on specific individuals, speaking in ways that relate to their particular circumstances. How might we do the same? Would it make a difference if we saw “Simon, who is called Peter” instead of “fishermen” or “Galileans”?
  2. In a very divided culture, how do we have the same mind and purpose? Is there anything upon which we can have agreement?
  3. Take a risk and seek out someone with whom you know you disagree and invite them to lunch. Simply try to get to know one another.
  4. What do you make of Jesus echoing John’s call, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near”? What is the significance of the timing of Jesus beginning his ministry after John has been arrested?
  5. Consider the light and dark imagery in Isaiah and throughout the Bible. Look up other passages with the word “light” and see how those passages use the imagery.
  6. Here is a prayer from Augustine that might be helpful this week: Come, Lord, work upon us, set us on fire and clasp us close, be fragrant to us, draw us to your loveliness, let us love, let us run to you.

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