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3rd Sunday after Epiphany Jonah 3:1-5,10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Gospel according to Mark 1:14-20 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Introductory note: because most of this sermon is a dramatic scene, it might be difficult to get a sense of it on paper. I’m always concerned about that, but especially with respect to these scenes in which I’m as much actor as preacher. For that reason, I’ve left in stage notes. You should know that the pauses were of varying lengths (usually depending on the question being silently asked). Also, I did not look at the congregation until the end of the scene. I looked at a spot (a window, actually) that represented the silent interviewer. I’ve named the story here, but did not name it or give any preliminary remarks when I delivered it. Hope you get a sense of it. I had fun doing it. Encounter with a Fisherman
What? [Pause.] Me? [Pause.] What do ya wanna talk to me for? [Pause.] Yeah, I’m a fisherman. [Pause.] Long time, all my life, ‘bout. [Pause.] Right here. I ain’t gone nowhere. [Pause.] Yeah, that’s my boat; these are my nets. Look, I don’t mean to be rude or nothin’, but I’m trying to get ‘um washed, and I don’t have time for chit-chat. [Pause.] All right. I guess a couple of questions won’t hurt, but I’m gonna keep working. [Pause.] Who? Peter? No . . . I don’t believe so. [Pause.] Oh, well now, Simon, I remember him. He’as a character. That boy never had a thought in his head what didn’t pop right on outta his mouth. Yeah, he and his brother . . . now what was his name? [Pause.] Oh, yeah, that’s right — Andrew. Simon and Andrew they used to fish this lake. Long time ago, though. Who? [Pause.] James and John? I knowed them, too. They used to fish this lake with their daddy. I hadn’t thought about any of these boys in years. They left to go after some preacher. [Quiet, intrigued] Interesting fella, [louder, stating the party line] but most folks around here thought that he cast some kinda spell on them boys. They just dropped their nets and left everything and followed that preacher fella. [Pause.] Yeah, I remember him. I’ll say this; he’s not the sort you’d soon forget. [Pause.] Nah, he just passed through. Still, you wouldn’t forget him. [Pause.] I don’t know exactly. Something about him. Strange fella saying strange things. [Pause.] Well, like, when he first showed up he was saying, "The time is now, the kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the good news." Now, I’ve lived in this fishing village all my life, and ain’t nobody else ever walked into town and said nothin’ anythin’ like, "The time is now, the kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the good news." This ain’t the most exciting place in the world, and when something like that happens, well, you won’t be forgettin’ it. [Reflective] Actually, I don’t think I’da forgot him is he hadn’t said a word. [Pause.] Yeah, I talked to him. [Subdued] Sure did. Like I said, he wadd’n a fella you forget. [Quiet] He asked me, too. Asked me to follow him, just like he done those other boys. [Pause.] No. I couldn’. . . . I was tempted. . . . I was sure tempted. But I jus’ couldn’. I had good reasons. I had plenty of good reasons. I had a life; I had responsibilities; I had plans. I had . . . plenty of . . . good reasons. Good reasons. When they was leaving, I told Simon why I couldn’t go. I told him I had good reasons, lots of good reasons why I couldn’ do something like that. [Pause.] He just said, "There’ll always be good reasons." I told you — not a thought that don’t pop right on out. And then they left. [Pause.] My life? Oh, my life’s fine. It’s just ‘bout what I expected it would be. You know, same ol’ same ol’. Catch fish, mend nets, clean nets, catch fish . . . on and on. [Pause.] Let me ask you something. Why are you asking about them boys? Are they still fishin’ somewhere? [Long pause. Stunned.] Is that right? You sure about that? [Pause, trance-like.] Well . . . I had reasons. I had good reasons. [Pause. Snapping out of it.] Look, I’d love to stand here talking to you and all, but them nets ain’t gonna wash themselves. You have a good day. [Looking at congregation] Folks, I don’t know what Jesus is calling you to. But I’m sure he’s calling you to something. Spend this week thinking about what that is. And I’m sure about something else, too. I’m sure that when you realize what Jesus is calling you to, you’ll have reasons, good reasons. The Rev. James H. Pritchett, Jr. St. John’s Episcopal Church, College Park, GA
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