Unclean! Unfit! Sinful!

Isaiah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

All three of our readings for today have the main character claiming that they are unclean, unfit, sinful people. Since the belief is that God can’t tolerate uncleanness, they all assume God can’t love them; God doesn’t want anything to do with them; and God can’t possibly want them to do anything in God’s service. But God has other ideas. God calls regular people to do special things.

… Uzziah was king of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, for about 52 years, dying around 740BCE. His reign was a time of economic and political stability. However, in his later years on the throne, he began to be prideful and took over roles that belonged to the priesthood. God became angry and punished him.

Isaiah is being called to be a prophet, speaking God’s words to God’s people in this “unclean” context. He is in the temple and God’s glory and presence is so complete, it fills the temple to overflowing. Knowing Isaiah’s self-doubt, God sends heavenly beings to cleanse him.

The seraphs have 6 wings : 2 wings cover their faces (so they don’t see God), 2 wings cover their feet (a euphemism for genitals, which are never shown in God’s presence), and 2 wings make it possible for them to fly. The seraphs take a coal from the altar and use it to cleanse Isaiah of this uncleanness.

God then gives Isaiah the opportunity to volunteer. “Who will go for me?” Isaiah now raises his hand and enthusiastically shouts, “Ooh, ooh, ooh! Pick me! Pick me! Here I am, Send me.”

… Jesus has been on a preaching and healing tour by himself around Galilee. He has become familiar with the people in Capernaum, attended Sabbath worship, and praying about who to call to help him in his ministry.

It makes sense that Jesus gets friendly with some fishermen, since they can deliver him to various cities and towns around the lake. So, it also makes sense that Jesus calls these 4 guys first. We read that Andrew, James and John are astounded, but Simon is stunned by the power shown by Jesus helping them find fish. He falls to the ground, in a posture of submission and fear. “Go away from me for I am a sinful man!”

In other words, Simon is worried his sinfulness put his life at risk. Or, it will tarnish the glory of God expressed in the enormous catch of fish. But Jesus has other plans. “Don’t be afraid. I have a job for you – from now on you will be fishing for people.”

We are told that they left their nets and followed Jesus. My opinion is that they spent some time fishing and taking Jesus around the lake, and some time on walking trips around inland Galilee.

… Paul began his time as a young Pharisee holding the cloaks for the men intent on stoning Stephen to death. A few years later, he had an encounter with Jesus while he was on the road to Damascus. There was a light so blinding, he closed his eyes against it. Jesus asks, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul is cared for by a man named Ananias, who has his own experience of the divine, instructing him to take care of Paul.

I am sure Paul never forgets the brokenness in his own life and the lives of those he persecuted. Even though he has had this encounter with the risen Jesus, he never forgets his past, which he now sees as sinful. Years later, Paul still considers himself unfit to be called an apostle, the least of the apostles. Still, he carries out the ministry Jesus called him to do.

… We read about these special people in the Bible and think about ourselves in comparison. We, too, confess that we are unfit, not special enough to be called by God for anything special. We try hard enough some days to even trust God, and more, to believe that there is a God.

The truth is that none of us is worthy of being called to anything special. Neither were Isaiah, Simon, or Isaiah. It wasn’t, and still isn’t, the person who deserves the call by God. Instead, God’s call makes us worthy of the calling. There is an old saying, “God doesn’t call the qualified. Instead, God qualifies the called.”

Before you were born, when the genes and chromosomes were being arranged in your body, you were called by God. When a pastor washed you with water and made the sign of the cross on your forehead, you were called by God. When you grew and discovered things you were good at doing, you were called by God. Today, you may think you know all the gifts you were given, but maybe you have some you don’t think about.

… In my mid-40s, I began to think God was calling me to be a pastor. But I believed I didn’t have the right abilities. I compared myself to the current pastor of the congregation, who did everything worship-related so perfectly.  He left for a new call, we had an interim, and then the next pastor arrived. He was such a contrast to the previous pastor, focused more on having a good time in worship and not on being perfect. Now, when I compared myself to this new pastor, I could see my own gifts and the possibility that God was indeed calling me to be a pastor.

I have always assumed that whatever I am doing today in ministry or Kiwanis or the Order of Lutheran Franciscans is not what I will be doing forever. God calls us to use the gifts we have been given for God’s purposes. And to be adaptable, to using our gifts in new ways when appropriate.

Especially in a congregation made up mostly of older adults, I have often heard, “Been there, done that, not gonna do it again.” So, I’m not suggesting that you serve on the same committees you did when you were 25 or 50, but I am encouraging you to think about your gifts and how you can use them here for the next year or two. Pay attention to the requests for leaders or participants. Invite a friend to do whatever-it-is with you. There are many ways to do the same old things, and maybe you have a good idea to share.

… You are loved enough, forgiven enough, fit enough, to look for ways to use your God-given gifts in the ministries of Gloria Dei.