“Then Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid. Someone has said that the words “do not be afraid” are repeated 120 times in Holy Scripture. That is a good thing, too, because there was a lot to be afraid of for those poor fishermen, no less than for you and me. The call to discipleship, the call to follow Jesus the Christ is scary business. The call to follow Jesus is risky business but with great rewards.
Luke doesn’t tell us what Jesus teaches the crowds when he gets “into one of the boats,” the one belonging to Simon and asks him to put out a little way from shore. What do your think? Jesus’ last couple of teachings hadn’t exactly been well received. Remember, in Nazareth he so angered the congregation that they chased him out of the city and came close to pitching him over a cliff! And what was it Jesus was preaching in Nazareth, you remember, he preached good news for the poor, release for the captives, recovery of sight for the blind and liberty for the oppressed. Good news for those on the margins but a threat for those who were wealthy and who held power.
I believe that Jesus’ teaching from Simon’s boat was the same message, a message of the Kingdom of God among us, here and now, shalom, well-being for all. But then Jesus needed Simon and now he needs us. It can’t bring the acceptable year of the Lord without us.
Jesus empowered Simon and Jesus empowers you and me. The Kingdom of God Jesus preaches is on both sides of the grave. Heaven and Hell begin here and now, both for individuals and for communities. At the justice conference I attended last week I heard story after story of transformation, of affordable housing being built in cities such as in Columbia, South Carolina, in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Charlottesville, Virginia, in Pensacola, Florida. And these transformations are occurring because of the united work of disciples in organizations like PACT. I listened and I came away believing more fervently than ever that PACT is among the most important ministries we undertake here at St. Stephen’s. Through PACT we join with other justice-seeking faith communities to hold public officials accountable and effect long-term sustainable change.
Jesus tells Simon, “Do not be afraid.” Our faith should quell our fears, but never our courage. If we think metaphorically for a minute, doesn’t deep water symbolize being over our heads, being up against something huge and over-powering? Well, what is more formidable than the self-serving wealthy political establishment? Many are not public servants. Many have forgotten the idea of the common good, of a commonwealth, and that is what the Kingdom of God, God’s shalom, is. It means good for all, not just for some.
As far back as the 1940’s affordable housing was considered a moral imperative. It was the stated goal of the 1948 Taft Housing Legislation that every American should have a decent home. We may be repelled by materialism but we are caught up in it. I am as guilty as anyone and I am challenged first to confront my own sinfulness before I bother about the splinter in the eye of another. So I hear Jesus’ words directed at me.
Jesus can not continue his ministry without my help. He needs Simon and he needs me. Do you hear him calling you, too? I hope so. I challenge each one of us to drive down Grand Avenue and look at the torn down buildings and the piles of evicted people’s belongings and ask ourselves what does that have to do with me?
There’s a story of a man who reaches the pearly gates and is greeted by God. God welcomes heaven’s new resident and the man asks God if he can ask a question. God agrees and the man says, why did you make life on earth so difficult for so many? There’s so much economic inequality, so much illness, so much crime,” the man says. Why?
God replies, “I didn’t make it that way,” I created you. What did you do about it?”
We have the opportunity to join with others from St. Stephen’s, to join with others who want to work for justice from over 50 communities of faith in Miami-Dade Country who belong to PACT and attend the Nehemiah action on April 1. We will be coordinating transportation and making it as easy as possible for you to “leave everything [that evening]” and come with us. Leave everything that evening and follow Jesus. We want to turn out our average weekly worship attendance which is about 130 people. I hope you will help us achieve that goal.
“Do not be afraid.” Remember, we are St. Stephen’s hands and feet in the world. We will bring good news to those who are poor, we will bring release to those who are captive, we will bring sight to the blind, we will bring liberty to those who are oppressed. And, together we will make this the acceptable year of the Lord. Amen.