Fishing, and seeking other shores.
Is there anything better than to be outside in the open fresh air? Feel the breeze, smell the flowers and enjoy the view.
Is there anything more soothing and soul comforting to be at a seashore, listening to the waves, watching the rolling waves, the ships, the surfers, the dolphins or the playing kids in the water.
As you know, I love the surf, sand and the sun.
I love swimming, floating, dipping my feet, or walking along the beach, - but most of all I love sitting with a book at the beach, breathing in together with the breeze and the waves, and listen to nature, to the stories of my book and to the ever-present calling of God. To be present, To be, to believe, to be grateful and to be a disciple, who so happens to be in the business of catching people!
If there is anything we do not like, we do not like being called or compared to sheep or fish. As intelligent independent people, we consider it an insult to be compared to bahing sheep that blindly follow the shepherd’s call; or being compared to fish getting caught in the net. How stupid. A bahing sheep and a caught fish.
We like being independent, strong, individual, free – so we like the image of the sheep running free in the green hills than the sheep following the shepherd and the flock; and we like the image of the fish, swimming joyfully and free in the vast ocean that the image of the fish being caught in a net… and later eaten.
Well, today we are at the beautiful lakeshore at Gennesaret Lake together with Jesus, the disciples, the boats, the nets, and the fish.
Finally, we have left the Synagogue of Nazareth, we have put the dusty old scrolls down, left the confinement and conformity of the synagogue and hometown, - and finally we are outside.
Lakeshore. Wind in the hair. Fresh air in the lungs. Boats on the water. And no fish in the net!
Jesus came to the lakeside, and he escaped the crowds who wanted to be near him hear him and touch him by jumping onto a boat.
After having spoken, preached, taught from the boat, he asked Simon to put out into the deep water and let down the nets to catch some fish. And even if the fishermen were tired after a long night without any catch, and even if they more than anything just wanted to call it quitch and go home, - well something in the voice and the eyes of Jesus made Simon and his friends sail out one more time.
And they caught fish like never: filled to the point of breaking and spilling, but filled with fish, with hope, with miracle and with new life.
Look at the image of the Bulletin. Colorful and vibrant. The wind blows in the faces and hair of the disciples. The sun is shining. The waves are crashing. And the nets are full. With all kinds of fish. Different colors. Different seizes. Different sorts. The net looks like a living patchwork – of fish in the waters or people in the world. Or people of the church.
“From now on you will be catching people.” That was the promise of Jesus to his first disciples, and it is still the calling to all of us as disciples, congregants, pastors, council members, - to catch people. Not to lure people in with false promises and empty schemes, but to catch people with light, truth, love, compassion, hope and faith.
Grundtvig, the Danish hymnwriter per excellence, had a poetic and beautiful relationship with nature: he wrote about forests, daffodils, birds, fields, and he also wrote about the lakeshore. The thoughtful fisherman sitting in his boat……. We just sang it, as we always sing it whenever we listen to the gospel about the calling of the first disciples. It has a catchy tune land a catchy lyric.
So, Simon followed Lord Jesus call,
The word was indeed enlightening.
He caught him people, and above all.
They changed to be sunshine brightening.
And still the catching is going on,
Around the world is the contest won
For Peter, and for his Master.
Today the fishing is done by us
Who are in the guild with Peter,
We come with light, carry on the cross,
No one can be called a cheater.
We travel oceans of hearts to see
That worldly things cannot solid be.
With God is our sole salvation.
This Hymn is such a poetic sermon for todays Gospel. And when it even has a melody by Carl Nielsen, the famous Danish composer, it is a match in a Danish heaven!
Grundtvig and Carl Nielsen described in music and in words the calling that we still have: to do the fishing, to come with light and cross and to catch people so they can be changed to be sunshine brightening, be saved.
“You have come down to the lakeshore.” We will sing after the sermon. Another newer hymn about the same thoughtful fisherman, the same fishing and the same calling.
Lord, you have come to the lakeshore
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones.
you only asked me to follow humbly.
Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes
kindly smiling you’ve called out my name.
on the sand I have abandoned my small boat; now with you, I will seek other seas.”
Monsignor Cesáreo Gabaráin (1936-1991) was one of the best-known composers of Spanish liturgical music following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). He was inspired by the feelings and actions of the humble people he met during his ministry. He was both a parish priest and a composer. And he was known for his athleticism and work with young people. His ministry to cyclists is legendary, taking so many tours with them that he became known as “priest of the cyclists.” In addition to spending many summer vacations ministering to cyclists participating in the Tour de France, he also performed a similar role with well-known soccer players in Madrid.
The hymn we are to sing, “Pescador de Hombres” (“Fisher of Men”), is the most popular written in 1979, “Tú has venido a la orilla” (the Spanish opening line) is based on the Gospel of Jesus’ calling of his first disciples.
The hymn entreats us to follow Christ with the same obedience and commitment. The refrain is a call to surrender to Jesus in response to his command to follow him. The gentle melody is reminiscent of a rocking boat by the lakeshore.
So, this beautiful hymn and the beautiful sailing and rocking melody of Carl Nielsen, both underscores the calling. Then and now. That we too are called to follow, to cast out nets and catch people.
Our Danish Lutheran Church has been called many things: fondly and mostly the Danish Church, our church, but also a Country Club and even a Cult by an angry neighbor.
We are not a Country club nor a cult. We are a church. A sailing ship of so many different members in all varied sizes, colors, ages, genders, opinions, and languages. But all united by the fact that we have been called and caught by the message of Christ.
“You need my hands, my exhaustion, working love for the rest of the weary, a love that’s willing to go on loving. “
Sometimes we might feel discouraged just like Simon and his friends after endless hours of work, ministry, outreach and calling. And many times, we might feel like we are hauling empty nest in.
And we might be focusing on what we can control: our nets. Our nets are nothing like the ones at the lakeshore, but the purpose is the same: to catch.
Our nets are Sunday Services, beautiful hymns, soul searching sermons, confirmation classes, Summer camps, lunch conversations and laughter, the sense of community and fellowship. During Covid we were called to spread out the nets, to cast them to reach other shores and seas… and we did.
And we keep on sailing and fishing. Not only on known seas, but we need to dare to go to unknown seashores and even troubled waters. We need to dare to do unusual things, at unpredictable places, as that is what we are called to.
“You need my hands, my exhaustion, working love for the rest of the weary, a love that’s willing to go on loving. “
I love the ocean, the breeze, the waves, the shores, the surf, the swim and the sail. I might not have been called at a Lakeshore, but I was called to sail out, cast nets and pray for fish in the nets. Any time at the ocean reminds me of that calling – that is why I love being there.
“Religion is a man sitting in church thinking about fishing. Christianity is a man sitting at a lake, fishing, and thinking about God.”
We are sitting here in church today, thinking about fishing but also thinking about God. We are not fishing for our own selfish reasons.
We are called to be fisherman to try to get people caught and hooked on the message of God, the calling of Christ and the need for community, compassion, church and grace.
Let go sailing and fishing together!
Amen