It’s for You
Luke 5:1-11
February 4, 2007
University Christian Church, Seattle, WA
Rev. Sandy Messick

• I heard this question yesterday on NPR that got me thinking. “If we are put on this earth to serve others, what are the others here for?” Ah well, set that aside for the moment. In the style of Jesus, I begin this morning with a parable:
• Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
• Week after week, month after month, and year after year, these who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be the primary task of fishermen.
• Continually, they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. Further they said, “The fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning.” They loved slogans such as “Fishing is the task of every fisherman.” They sponsored special meetings called “Fishermen’s Campaigns,” and “The Month for Fishermen to Fish.” They sponsored costly nationwide and world-wide congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing and hear about all the ways of fishing such as the new fishing equipment, fish calls, and whether any new bait had been discovered.
• These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings called “Fishing Headquarters.” The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish. One thing they didn’t do however: They didn’t fish.
• In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. The board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish.
• Large elaborate, and expensive training centers were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, where to find fish, the psychological reactions of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology, but the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing. Year after year, after tedious training, many were graduated and were given fishing licenses. They were sent to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters which were filled with fish. But most found other things to do, such as building support structures for those who might one day fish.
• After one stirring meeting on “The Necessity for Fishing,” one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported that he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fishermen’s General Board as a person having considerable experience.
• Now it’s true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen’s clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen but never fished. They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the weekly meetings to talk about fishing. Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who don’t catch fish were really not fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct. Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches a fish? (copied from www.sermonillustrations.com)

• One day, Jesus called, there by the sea of Gennasaret, and Peter’s fishing buddies said to Peter, “It’s for you.” Jesus was calling Peter to give up fishing for fish, and to start fishing for people. Peter, of course, had lots of excuses: “Go away from me Jesus for I am a sinful man.” But Jesus responded: “Yeah, I know, but I need you anyway, c’mon Peter, let’s go fishing.” And Peter left everything and followed him.
• One day God called Isaiah, complete with incense and smoke-filled rooms. The cherubim and seraphim said to Isaiah: “It’s for you.” God was calling Isaiah to go and speak words of comfort and words of challenge to God’s people. Isaiah, of course, had lots of excuses: “I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips.” And God replied, “Yeah, I know, but I need you anyway. Who will go for me?” And Isaiah replied, “Here I am, send me.”

• During the last few Sundays we’ve been focused on Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, hearing the words of 1Corinthians chapters 12 and 13. We’ve talked about how the church is made up of many gifts, that the church is like a body with many parts, and that each gift and each part of the body is needed in order for the body to be complete. We’ve talked about how out of all the gifts, the greatest gift is love and that without love, all the other gifts are just noise. But now, here in these passages from Isaiah and Luke, God’s getting personal with us. No longer are we talking in generalities about gifts and talents and part of the body. Now God is calling us, as individuals, you and me, to go fishing, to speak God’s word to God’s people, to use our gifts within the body of Christ in order that the body of Christ may speak to the world.
• This time the call from God is for us.
• And like those whom God has called before: we have many good excuses. When the call comes we stand strongly in the tradition of Isaiah and Peter, Moses and Paul ready with our buts at hand (that’s but with one T, just for clarification) Oh we say, we’d really like to say yes God but…, but…, but… and then we start listing our excuses:
• I’m really not very good at that, others would be more qualified.
• I’m really busy, others must have more time
• I don’t have much experience, others must know better.
• And so we become like those who talk about fishing, but never fish. And so the good news goes unheard, and God’s people remain hungry.
• Now I’m not saying that you should say yes to every opportunity put before you. At the risk of incurring the wrath and dismay of the nominating committee, not every person is suited for every task within or outside of the church. And sometimes, when we are asked to do something that truly is not a match with our gifts or is not something we believe in, we do a disservice to the community by saying yes when we really mean no.
• But each of us has been given gifts. And each of us is challenged to use our gifts. And each of us has a calling. And each of us is called to do something. And the excuse that we can’t do something amazing, incredible, or front page newsworthy never really flies very well. Edmund Burke, who once said, “All that is required for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing,” also said, “Nobody made a greater mistake that the one who did nothing because he could only do a little.” Even the littlest gifts are needed in the body of Christ.
• So maybe you don’t have the gift of singing, but you do have a gift for organizing. Then do that. And maybe you don’t have a calling to pray in public, but you make a mean apple pie to take to a shut-in, so do that. And maybe you don’t have the ability to teach children, but you enjoy the challenge of teaching adults. Then do that.
• It’s just possible, that where your gifts are, and where your passions are, and even where your interests are even if they’re out of your comfort zone, maybe that’s exactly where God is calling you to fish, to speak, to serve. And God is not put off by our excuses. God still responds: “Yeah, I know all that, I still need you.”

• I heard this week about a man who really did have some good excuses.
• Patrick was born without eyes and with a condition that doesn’t allow him to fully straighten his arms or legs. Confined to a wheelchair and unable to see the world around him, his parents at first despaired and wondered what kind of life lay before him.
• But when Patrick was 2 they discovered his wonderful gift. Patrick started playing the piano and soon, amazingly, was taking requests. Today, in addition to the piano, Patrick plays the trumpet. He’s in college now, at the University of Louisville. His dad goes with him to help him with his classes. When Patrick asked to join the Pep Band, the band director had a different idea: Why not join the marching band? “Crazy” he said. “Don’t they realize he’s blind and in a wheelchair,” said his dad. But the call had been made, and Patrick responded. I saw a picture of Patrick in the band, in his uniform with his dad behind pushing him out on the field during a half-time show. The excuses, and they really were good ones, didn’t stop him. He’s sharing his music, he’s using his gifts.

V. When God calls, it’s easy to find an excuse. The excuses are the easy part. Sharing our gifts? Making a commitment? Taking a risk? That’s the hard part. And yet, still Christ calls. We hear the word, in our prayers, at our jobs, in the middle of the night when we least expect it. God calls. It’s for you….and you….and me. Come on, says Jesus….But…we reply, but….Come on, says Jesus, we have fishing to do. By God’s grace, may it be so.