“Faithful to the Call: Stewarding God’s Gifts” ~ Isaiah 6: 1-8 & Luke 5: 1-11
February 9, 2025 ~ Northwood United ~ Rev. G. Scott Turnbrook
Why would you ever do something that makes you feel terrible? Why would you ever engage in something that makes you feel unworthy? Why would you attend a place that makes you feel afraid? Why would you ever do something like coming to church?
Whoa…Wait a minute Scott, church doesn't make me feel terrible, unworthy, or afraid! In fact, I kind of like church. I enjoy the passionate music. The friends I've made over the years. Last week we even built a snowman during worship! I look forward to the delicious baking and refreshments after worship, all the events that occur through the week, the fellowship, the outreach, the community and the depths of care. How could church make me feel terrible, unworthy, or afraid?
So, let’s have an honest conversation Northwood about church community. For as many different things as the church is to us, it is first and foremost a place that centres around God. It is a place that we gather together to listen to God's voice speaking unto us. We may enjoy many social aspects of the church. But the church foundational task is to be a place that centers around God's word: God’s Word heard and God’s Word lived. And that central task of gathering around God’s word is one that necessarily evokes fear, makes us feel unworthy, makes us feel terrified.
Listen to some of the callings that Kathleen read in Isaiah and Luke. The tremendous call received by Isaiah. The magnificence of God surrounding the sanctuary. “Seraphs”, roughly translated as serpents, flying around the church. Understandably, the fearful Isaiah as all of this unfolds. And to his fear and uncertainty, a live coal placed upon his lips to bring forth God's speech. That is terrifying if we can even begin to comprehend this call.
Or Peter, Jesus, first disciple called to ministry. This now incredibly famous rabbi was calling him, a simple fisherman. This one who could tell beyond any skilled fisher’s measure where the fish were. He is told by Jesus, “put out into deep water, and let your Nets down for a catch”. Frustrated and afraid, he answers: “but master we've worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets”.
Jesus brought forth miracles; he filled boats with fish; people gathered from all parts to see him. But Jesus’ presence also brought pain. Just being in the mere presence of Jesus caused Peter to realize his frailty. How could he not be aware of how far from Jesus he was? Peter was a mere Fisher, and not a good one at that ~ Fishing all night and coming up with nothing. And in the presence of Jesus, he felt unworthy, afraid, terrible. We can see it in Peter's response “go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Peter, just like Isaiah came to the realization of how very human he was; of how imperfect next to Jesus he was; of how sinful he was. “Go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man!”
And as we gather in a place like this to worship the God that we know in Christ, we also come to acknowledge our humanity, our limits, our frailty as well. During the season of Epiphany we reflect upon this manifestation of Christ; of how God's presence comes illuminated to us through Christ; of how God becomes present in our lives through our faith. And if we are truly faithful. If we are being truly honest…We are afraid, we feel unworthy, we feel terrified! Because as followers of Jesus, as members of the body of Christ it is terrifying to know that we are called to continue the mission of Jesus in this time and place. We are called to continue Jesus’ work. Like Peter, we are called to be Jesus’s disciples. And we feel unworthy, we are afraid, we feel terrified.
This morning is Stewardship Sunday. Our finance team have worked very hard and the summary of our annual giving has been sent out. Thank yous and appreciations are offered to all of our donors. And today we are confronted by the reality that we're called to carry on the legacy of the church; we're called to carry on the mission and ministry of Northwood moving ahead into these next chapters. And this, for all of us, is scary! Because these are not the days of old! The days when churches were overflowing with members; the days when mortgages were burned. These are terrifying days of dropping attendance, of concerns and distrust for the church, of pondering the church’s relevance. Yet, through all of this, we are called to continue Christ’s mission here and now!
I think the text portrays Jesus’ sense of empathy to this problem. To Peter’s fearful response “go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man” Jesus simply replies “do not be afraid from now on you will be catching people”. From now on you will no longer be working alone; alone with your pole and your hook; Do not be afraid from now on I will be with you. And this is the same message that accompanies all calls from God to God's people. Isaiah could not speak God's words alone. And so, God offers the live coal that sparks open his lips in prophecy. We also can be afraid to continue Christ’s mission. Do not be afraid, from now on, you will be with God. God is with you! Indeed, to go about it alone, we rightfully should be afraid; to go about it with Christ’s presence we need not be afraid!
The great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini has given the world many beautiful pieces of music. In 1922, he was diagnosed with cancer. But despite his cancer, he continued his work on the opera Turandot. Close to his death, he wrote a note to his students: “if i don't finish the opera, I want you to finish it for me”. In 1924, Puccini’s cancer took his life. His students gathered together and collectively finished the opera. The opening performance was conducted by one of Puccini’s students, Arturo Toscanini. The opera opened, however, when it reached the place where Puccini had stopped writing, Toscanini put down his baton, turned to the audience and said “thus far the master wrote and then he died”. After 2 minutes of silence Toscanini picked up the baton, turned to the audience and said “but his disciples have finished his work!”
When I think about stewardship Sunday, I think this is exactly what it is about. It is about what the students Puccini did in finishing his great work! It is about Isaiah answering the call to be one of God’s great prophets. It is about the disciples following the call that Jesus offers unto them. Faith communities are odd when considered against other social institutions…aren’t they? In most situations, we give of our time, talent and treasure based upon the expectation of the value we get back. We give because it is good value: we get more back. Faith communities are different, we offer a portion of God’s gifts because they were never really ours. All of the blessings we have at our disposal were entrusted by God unto us. And our call is to discern the best way to answer the call and continue the legacy of Christ.
We live in interesting times with polarized thinking, fear of the future, fear of the other. Our Jazz musician last Sunday reminded us of the horrible lie being perpetrated; “the lie of scarcity”. This lie is that there is not enough. There is not enough to share with others; there is not enough to care for those in need; there is not enough. The truth that Jesus reveals is that THERE IS enough. To the fishers that had spent all night fishing…Jesus taught them how to fill the boats with a record catch. There is enough love; there is enough care; there is enough when we continue in the legacy of being God’s people.
When I thank you every Sunday for your generosity in stewarding God’s gifts: your generosity of time, talent and treasure. What I am really thanking you for is following your faith; continuing in the legacy of those before; allowing Christ’s ministry to flourish…answering the call that Christ offers you.
May we continue to be God’s wise and faithful stewards of such abundance. May it overflow in our lives and in our churches.
Amen.