January 15, 2023 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Whenever I invite people over, I check the house—at least the public parts. Is everything relatively neat and clean? Laundry hanging anywhere? Kitchen counters cleared? Magazines and books straightened? If people show up unexpectedly, they get what they get, and it might not be pretty. I could even be embarrassed that things aren’t as perfect as I’d like them to appear.

In one of this particular gospel writer’s teaching techniques, John has his characters answer a question with a question. As a couple of disciples begin to tail Jesus after his baptism, this happens:
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” [from John 1]
Then Jesus invites them to “come and see.”

We have only our imaginations to guess what they find when they visit Jesus at home.

It is likely the Sabbath, because it appears they stay overnight. Do they see him interacting with family? Hosting the Sabbath meal? Praying over the food? Singing a psalm? Laughing at a joke? Telling stories? Do they see him sharing leftovers with the poor? Talking to unclean people on the way home? Talking about what to do about a widowed neighbor or a depressed friend? Do they hear some of his teaching, or is just seeing how he lives on a random day life-changing enough?

Whatever they experience, it is interesting or moving enough for them to tell some others about it, and to give them the same invitation to come and see.

In Isaiah, we read, “The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away” (49:1b-2).

“The Lord called.” Call must be seen by someone. We can see it in ourselves and sometimes that’s enough. More often, though, another sees it in us. If it is not seen, it will not come to life in the world, and it will remain dormant within us. Others can hide our call from us by showing us distorted images of ourselves. Narratives about us can keep us from seeing the truth about ourselves. 

In the Isaiah reading, “The Lord called.” A relationship began. A relationship that had two parties – the caller and the called.

In the Gospel reading, we hear, “Come and see.” A relationship began. A relationship that also had two parties — again the caller and the called.

In both cases, this initial relationship was full of infinite possibilities. The prejudices and presuppositions we bring to those initial relationships are the limiting factor. “Oh, she’s down and out and can’t contribute anything to me.” “Oh, they don’t even know whether they identify as a man or woman… how can they provide anything of consequence?” “Did you see the funny head scarf that that woman was wearing? Why she probably knows someone who was involved in the bombings in New York City! Why do I care what she has to say?”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus meets Peter for the first time. Peter — who would deny him three times before the cock crowed. Peter — whom Jesus would call upon to build his movement. Peter — who becomes the cornerstone of the church. What is it that we see when we meet one another, for the first time? 

All too often, we find that in our faith, we gather not as a diverse racial group, but as one group somewhat homogenous. Yes, there are differences, but they may be things like which town we live in, or what color hair we have. There may even be economic differences, but there are usually not big racial differences in our faith groups. But when we gather ecumenically, as we do on Thanksgiving, there are vast visible difference. 

I wonder — if you came — what presuppositions did you have? And what prejudices that you had were broken down?

I wonder — if you weren’t able to attend — how do today’s readings about first meetings speak to you?

Peter denied Jesus and then Jesus called upon him to build his movement. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famously quoted as having said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” What love Jesus exhibited to Peter to transform him from enemy to friend!

I wonder a lot… But most importantly, I wonder what people would see if they came on short notice to my home? Or to yours? More importantly, what would people see if they walked in the doors of our church 5 minutes after our service started and just sat in the back. Would they be welcomed as an opportunity to experience the divine in a new way? Or would they see unwritten prejudices and unspoken presuppositions that got in the way of the infinite divine possibilities of relationship? 

Do justly now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. Get your house ready for the new relationships you can build so that you can recognize the divinity in the other.