2.9.2025
[Texts for the 5th Sunday after Epiphany]
Isaiah 6:1-8 [9-13]
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
Blessings of Epiphany to you, holy and beloved siblings in Christ.
We are in Luke 5. Let’s see how the story today continues strengthening our belief in God.
Picture this: You've been toiling away for countless hours, pouring in every ounce of your professional expertise and skills. Yet, at the end of the day, the outcome isn't what you had hoped for. Exhausted and frustrated, you believe that there must be something missing. Just as you're about to call it a day, your boss walks in and asks you to dive back in, this time combing through a labyrinth of unfamiliar resources to find the missing link.
Would you take on this challenge or just give up?
Such a scenario can put our spirits to the test. It’s a mix of determination, resilience, and the drive that we need to achieve the outcome that we have envisioned. What would you do in this situation?
[Biblical Context]
This is the situation Peter, James, and John found themselves in as described in Luke 5. Jesus asked them to go out into the deep water and lower their nets for a catch. Peter's initial response seemed somewhat defensive, essentially saying, 'Come on, I'm a fisherman, but if you say so!' Clearly, Peter wasn't very convinced that Jesus knew how to catch fish. This makes Peter's later confession to Jesus all the more dramatic.
After miraculously catching a large number of fish, Peter says to Jesus, 'Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!' He feels unworthy to be in Jesus' presence due to his earlier defensiveness. Peter’s confession sounds very similar to the Prophet Isaiah’s confession in chapter 6. Isaiah said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! In the same way, Peter’s eyes also have seen the Lord of lords, the Son of God.
[Challenges]
Our spirits are often tested and challenged when we are tempted to rely solely on our own strength and wisdom. When things don’t go well, an easy way out is to be defensive. It's a natural reaction to feeling vulnerable or feeling attacked by others.
When someone is defensive, they're usually trying to protect themselves from perceived threats or criticisms. This can manifest in various ways, such as denying responsibility, making excuses, or shifting blame onto others. That’s called external defensiveness. How about internal defensiveness? It can manifest in self-blaming and self-destructing behaviors. None of them are helpful.
This makes me think of an overused slogan: 'Be Yourself!' or 'Believe in Yourself!' For people of faith, the slogan 'Be Yourself!' or 'Believe in Yourself!' can be a bit misleading. We are intimately connected with God spiritually—the Spirit of God dwells within us through faith. So, to whom should the people of faith listen, in whom should they put their trust, and by whom should they be led, or of whom should they be representative?
If we, the people of faith, are not aware of the Spirit of God within us by grace through faith, we might unintentionally become defensive and oppose God’s lead, which many refer to as spiritual warfare. Are we going to listen to the Spirit of God or our own spirits?
In Luke 5:1-11, the phrase "put out into deep water" holds significant meaning. It signifies Jesus asking Peter to believe in Him and take a leap of faith by venturing into deeper waters, both literally and metaphorically. God in Jesus ventures with Peter, James, and John.
It is a call to deeper faith, trust, and commitment to Jesus' teachings and mission. It's an invitation to witness the abundance and blessings that come from such deeper faith. And they accept that invitation and witness the abundance and blessings of God as recorded in the New Testaments, especially in the book of Acts.
Do we still fish for people like they did in the New Testament, walking from village to village, meeting people in person, connecting with them through teaching, healing, and offering pastoral care? While fishing Jesus’ followers, we might act like Peter being defensive from time to time. Whoever we work with might also act like Peter.
Defensiveness causes division. Division goes against the redemption of the oneness that Jesus has restored through the cross. In partnership with siblings in Christ as we respond to God’s call and invitation to witness God's abundant blessings, let's see how we are doing.
[Doing Church vs. Being Church]
Nowadays, the call from Jesus covers two aspects of our lives together, one is doing church, namely, manage the building and its ministries; it is about the external actions and routines that are part of church life. Another one is being church, namely, be the body of Christ through relationship building; it is about embodying the teachings, showing compassion, love, and service to others, and integrating one's faith into all aspects of life.
We often ask ourselves: How can we lead others to experience Jesus and inspire them to learn more about Christian faith, and eventually invite them to come to deeper faith? Through doing church or being church?
There are five typical ministries that we use to fish for people. Let me know if you think each one is doing church or being church. If it’s both, which one requires more of it to deepen peoples’ faith?
Live daily by example through words and actions by exchanging life stories that show the kind of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Engage in community outreach by sharing resources and offering opportunities that show people that God cares.
Build relationships and develop genuine friendships with people and be there for each other in times of need through listening.
Start a faith based small group in a non-judgmental environment where the Story of God that we are part of is explored, discussed, processed, and experienced.
Use social media to highlight epiphany moments in life via bible verses, prayers, and faith stories that catalyze meaningful and purposeful conversations.
When we learn to focus on being church more, the positive impact of our faith can be experienced by others. As a result, people may be inspired to learn more about Jesus and follow Him, and eventually come to deeper faith.
We all would agree that when our faith is deepened, our vision is enlarged to see God's vision that transforms our perspective! Having deep faith in God helps us see beyond our usual scope, bringing in fresh insights and challenging old approaches to reach out to people. As Jesus said, “Go deeper!” By grace through faith, everything will simply fall beautifully into place with clarity.
[Good News]
May we embrace the words Jesus said to Peter: Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will catch my people. God asks, “Who will go for us?” May our deep faith lead us to respond to God as the prophet Isaiah did: “Here I am, send me, and here we are, send us.” And remember, we are not on our own. God in Jesus ventures with us wherever we are to be church individually and communally, the body of Christ. Amen.
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